Cantle Plate for a Saddle
Dateprobably first half of 1800s
Mediumfire-blued steel, embossed and incised with portions fire-gilded and with silver and gold false-damascening
Dimensions20.2 × 53.3 × 21 cm (7 15/16 × 21 × 8 1/4 in.), 1 lb 12 oz (weight)
ClassificationsArms and Armor
Credit LineThe John Woodman Higgins Armory Collection
Object number2014.957
DescriptionOf two plates of steel, overlapping at center. Halves are irregularly trapezoidal in form, concave to body. Surface has bluish-black hue, which may in part be the result of bluing, but the natural iridescense of this appears only at the upper left corner beneath the gilding. The patination does not seem to be a russetted one resulting from aging of a fire-blued surface. Upper and outer side edges are hollow-flanged and shallowly chisel-roped, and retain traces of gilding. Inside is a shallow silvered recessed band which is finely cross-hatched and false-damascened with foliate tendrils of gold, copper & silver wire. This is broken at broad intervals by a single, incised and gilded five-petalled flower. The same tendril decoration, less the flowers, extends across the lower edge within a raised band. The bands are bordered on their inner edges by a thin gold line and another of pointille.
Both halves are pierced with a single mounting hole at outer sides and at mid-height on the inner side, where the left overlaps the right and is secured by a modern cross-headed bolt and nut.
The decorated area framed within the borders is embossed with a pseudo-classical battle scene of warriors both on foot and on horseback in combat before a skyline dotted with buildings and turretted structures. The repousse areas are cross-hatched, and the terrain rendered is hammer-roughened and incised with flora. The warriors wear antique casques and molded cuirasses, decorated in a variety of designs rendered in gold and silver false-damascening, for example: quatrefoil motifs in a trellis-work pattern, mannerist drapery swags or tendrils and combinations, or overall gold dots. The lower leg hose matches the decoration of the cuirass. Most of the figures also wear cloaks. They are armed with falchion-like swords (one warrior carries a rather non-descript standard on a haft) and have oval or teardrop-shaped shields. The flesh and other decoartive details are silvered. The repousse is enhanced with chasing. The background terrain is coppered (?) and gilded. The very high skyline is set with poorly-rendered turretted structures, some rather modern-looking buildings, and others apparently Eastern-influenced.
The scene is embellished with silver and gold false-damascening.
Label TextA knight's war saddle was often armored with a "pommel plate" in front and a "cantle plate" in back, decorated to match the rider's armor. The plates protected the knight's groin and thighs. This example is partially silvered and gilt, and embossed with scenes of classically armed warriors in combat.Provenance(possibly) Ralph Bernal (England; nlt 1855) Earl of Londesborough (England; 1855?-4, etc. July 1888, lot 285) Richard Zschille (Grossenhain, Saxony; 1888?-25, etc. January 1897, lot 363) S.E. Kennedy (1897?-8 March 1918, lot 112) Samuel J. Whawell (England; 1918-1926, lot 144) Cyril Andrade (to May 1930) purchased by John W. Higgins on May 16, 1930 from Cyril Andrade, Ltd. of London, his no. 382. Given to the Museum on December 15, 1931. Collection transfer from Higgins Armory, January 2014.
On View
Not on viewCollections
late 1700s-early 1800s
