Backplate for a Laminated Cuirass (Krebs)

Culture Southern German , or

Culture Austrian

Datelate 1500s–early 1600s

Mediumsteel

Dimensions46.5 × 41.7 × 19.7 cm (18 5/16 × 16 7/16 × 7 3/4 in.), 7 lb 14 oz (weight)

ClassificationsArms and Armor

MarkingsThere is a single punched dot at the medial area of the top and bottom lames.

Credit LineThe John Woodman Higgins Armory Collection

Terms

Object number2014.761

DescriptionThe backplate is high and broad, with nearly vertical sides. 9 steel lames overlapping upwards, with single-lame curved culet riveted below. The top lame is deep, and is beaten up over the tops of the shoulders, which have squared-off terminals. Shoulders each with oblong tongued buckle having brass roller, fitted into a lobated shank secured by an iron rivet with soldered brass-domed cap.

Wide, shallow, medially cusped neck opening. Edges here and at deep, curved arms are inwardly turned & plain. Rounded slightly over the shoulderblades, the backplate is slightly depressed between them along the medial line. Each of the lames below is deep, with a bevelled upper edge cusped at the medial line and near the ends.

Lames work on sliding rivets fitted with domed brass caps, along the medial line and to either side at the cusps. There are eight rivets per row. Each is of iron, with a large slightly rounded head to which is soldered a domed brass cap.

The basal lame has a horizontal set of rivets at the sides for lost waiststraps. The lower edge of the lame is drawn out in a narrow flange at the waist. Riveted to this is a single-lame, rounded culet plate which is curved to the body. The top edge of this is level, while the inwardly turned, plain basal edge deepens slightly to mid-length. The turned edge is bordered by row of 19 brass-capped rivets similar to those above but smaller. Beneath the hollow, circular washers within are fragments of leather lining-band.

Traces of thin line decoration remains along the transverse edges of lames and along the arm openings. The exposed lame edges are beveled both inside and out. Articulation begins on the 4th lame down--this is where the sliding rivets begin. Upper lames are not mobile, as they are attached in 3 rivets without sliding slots.
ProvenanceDr. Bashford Dean (Riverdale, NY) Purchased by Mr. John W. Higgins on September 30, 1929 from the estate of Dr. Bashford Dean (Riverdale, NY), estate number 22. Given to the Armory on December 26, 1946. Collection transfer from Higgins Armory, January 2014.

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