Backplate

Culture European

Date1800s – early 1900s

Mediumsteel and leather

Dimensions54 × 37.5 × 18 cm (21 1/4 × 14 3/4 × 7 1/16 in.), 8 lb (weight)

ClassificationsArms and Armor

Credit LineThe John Woodman Higgins Armory Collection

Terms

Object number2014.734

DescriptionAfter Augsburg "Gothic" fashion, & formerly mounted with armor HAM# 2686. Formed of nine lames of steel. Borders of neck and armpits are formed to simulate turned-over edges. Edge of plates are slightly mitered and cusped at pivots on either side. Upper plate shaped to back with deep V-shaped neck opening with riveted plate having shallow curved upper edge. Shallow flutes at arms, following edge of neck opening. Top plate overlaps 2 narrow laminations of chevronic form below & all are riveted together at ends. At mid back, plates embossed with shallow flutes from arms to mid-waist. Basal edges of upper plates decoratively pierced with heart shapes, & bracket-cut at center. Plates riveted to deep waistplate whose flange has riveted culet of 4 rounded lames embossed with central spray of flutes. Engraved guilloche at waistline & along upper border of top plate. Lowest lame deepens to center & has plain, unturned edge. Surface artificially patinated. Some plates perhaps reworked old metal.
ProvenancePurchased by Museum on July 18, 1939 from Jacques Seligmann & Co. (NYC), agents for the estate of Clarence H. Mackay (Roslyn, L.I.). (their item no. c-100) Collection transfer from Higgins Armory, January 2014.

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