Breastplate of a Siege Cuirass

Cultureprobably English

Date1600s

Mediumsteel, iron and brass

Dimensions51 × 39 × 16 cm (20 1/16 × 15 3/8 × 6 5/16 in.), 24 lb 11 oz (weight)

ClassificationsArms and Armor

Credit LineThe John Woodman Higgins Armory Collection

Terms

Object number2014.748.1

DescriptionMate to WAM 2014.748.2. Heavy steel, now russeted, with traces of black paint; brass rivets. Long-bellied, with vestigial peascod & full-length low medial ridge. Neck & arm openings have outward, plain turns over wire core. Narrow, downturned curved basal flange. This & openings bordered by brass rivets whose iron washers retain leather fragments. Edges & face decorated with simple engraved bands. Near shoulders are brass studs (right broken) for shoulder straps. Reinforced internally with what seems to be earlier breastplate (perhaps c. 1640), secured by flush rivets (note that this could be cut down, so its date is hard to ascertain). This has holes for a lining band and shoulder straps.

Dent on left breast, apparently from a bullet. possibly a proof-mark. The shape has been altered at the armhole-flank intersection by the addition of roughly triangular plates.
Label TextDuring the second half of the 1600s, changing tactics and effective firearms resulted in horsemen wearing less armor, but heavier and bulletproof. This very heavy example was further reinforced by riveting a large plate on the inside, in this case, one recycled from a breastplate of about 1640.ProvenancePurchased by Museum from Robert Abels Antiques (NYC) on February 23, 1949. Paid $35 for HAM# 2368.A & B. Collection transfer from Higgins Armory, January 2014.

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