Backplate
Culture
Northern Italian
, Milan
Date1575–1600
Mediumetched and blackened steel, leather fragments and brass
Dimensions44.5 × 40 × 10.2 cm (17 1/2 × 15 3/4 × 4 in.), 3 lb 3 oz (weight)
ClassificationsArms and Armor
MarkingsSerial marks "VVVI" at waist. Red painted "53" near the medial line interior at left shoulder
Credit LineThe John Woodman Higgins Armory Collection
Object number2014.736.2
DescriptionAppears to match breastplate 2014.736.1). Of one piece. Steel with leather fragments. Closely matches breastplate, with high, near-straight neck, finished with a chisel roped inward turn over a wire core, as are the edges of the armpits and basal flange. The armpits have shallow, recessed bands, the inner edge of which is bordered by a raised roped rib. Rounded for shoulderblades and formed with a recess between them. The plate extends in a vertical line to the waist, and tapers gently into rounded curves at the asymmetrical straight-cut side edge. The waist is pierced at the sides with three holes in a row, the innermost of which retains a brass-capped, iron rivet with a floral iron rosette of ten petals, beneath which are fragments of the leather waistbelt. At each shoulder is a buckle of "C" shape with tang, secured by an iron, brass-capped rivet. The very narrow waistflange is not pierced for culet, & rising in low arc at mid-width.ProvenancePurchased by John W. Higgins on May 16, 1930 from Cyril Andrade, Ltd., London. Given to the Museum on December 15, 1931. Collection transfer from Higgins Armory, January 2014.
On View
Not on view
Northern Italian
about 1585–1590, with later alterations
