Breastplate for Infantry or Light Cavalry

Date1610–1625

Mediumsteel

Dimensions46.5 × 37.8 × 14.4 cm (18 5/16 × 14 7/8 × 5 11/16 in.), 4 lb 1 oz (weight)

ClassificationsArms and Armor

MarkingsTraces of incised, upper-case letters "BD(?)" to right of medial ridge, at pivot-hook level. Red-painted HAM number "15" within, on medial line of waist flange patch. What may be a "V"-shaped serial mark is cut on the waist-bend, left edge, within.

Credit LineThe John Woodman Higgins Armory Collection

Terms

Object number2014.735

DescriptionFormed from one piece of light steel, in the vestigal 'peascod' shape, with a high waist that dips towards the center, and having an integral, deep, rounded waistflange that is similarly curved. The plate is beaten up slightly over the front of the shoulders which are terminated in squared-off, plain ends. The neck is curved and slightly depressed, and is finished with a plain inward turn over an iron wire core. The openings for the arms are treated likewise, and the rear side edges below are straight to the waist. Just below the neck opening is a low medial ridge extending to the waist-line where it becomes a nearly flat, narrow keel as it passes down the waistflange.

On either side of this keel is a broad, shallow plain recessed band. The bottom of the breastplate is beaten out in an integral, deep waistflange with a noticeable "spring" over the top of the hips. This flange serves as a skirt, and its edge is finished as those of the neck and arm openings. At the top right side edge it is obvious that the sides were originally bordered by a narrow, deep recessed plain band.

On the chest, near the arm openings, are posts and very plain iron pivot-hooks (the right is an associated Dutch hook of the same period, but of slightly higher quality; the brass rivet which retains it is modern). There are no indications of mounts for tassets.

The breastplate is plain, and polished bright. It is without decoration except for a pair of closely spaced, narrow, incised lines which border the neck and arm holes, the waistline, and once followed the perimeter of the waistflange.

There is a large patch behind most of the left side of the waistflange, and a small one at the right corner of the flange. Both seem to be 19c or later, and could well be by Marchat.
Label TextWell into the 17th century Sweden was heavily dependent upon imported arms and armor, particularly from Holland. Very similar breastplates are shown worn by infantrymen in Adam van Breen's De Nassausche Wapen-Handelinge (1618), and Dutch pieces which were captured by English trooops in 1627 are preserved in the Royal Armouries, HM Tower of London. Although the use of metal body armor in Europe had entered into a period of steady decline by the time of Sweden's participation in the 30 Years' War, it remained popular with colonists in America. Steel breastplates such as this provided an excellent defense from the arrows of the Native Americans.ProvenancePurchased by John W. Higgins on 3 August 1926 from Sylvan Marchat of Paris, France. Price paid: 300 francs ($11.79). Given to the Armory on 26 December 1946. Collection transfer from Higgins Armory, January 2014.

On View

Not on view

Collections