Left Vambrace, from a Garniture, probably made for Ludwig Ungnad von Weissenwolf auf Sunegg
Artist
Desiderius Helmschmid
(German, Augsburg, 1513–1579)
Artistdecorated by
Jörg T. Sorg the Younger
(Southern Germany, Augsburg, about 1525 – 1603)
Dateabout 1552
Mediumsteel with embossed, etched, blackened and gilded decoration, with modern brass, velvet, leather and steel
Dimensions45 × 19 × 12 cm (17 11/16 × 7 1/2 × 4 3/4 in.), 3 lb (weight)
ClassificationsArms and Armor
MarkingsAll major components are internally marked with HAM accession number in black on a white field. Both vambraces have the inner end of the couter mainlame and that above marked with a single v-shaped nick. The left vambrace (only) has the inner ends of the laminations at the bend of the arm marked with small v-shaped nicks- 1 in each of the seven lowest lames and 5 in each of the 12th through 17th.
Credit LineThe John Woodman Higgins Armory Collection
Object number2014.74.7
DescriptionThese are a pair, and were used with the Fussturnierharnisch (p. 21 of Gamber), Kempfkueriss (p. 73, fig. 15, ibid.), Harnasch (p. 76, fig. 18, ibid.). Each consists of a riveted upper cannon with turner, and a hinged cannon of two hinged halves, both of the cannons riveted to a couter of three lames with heart-shaped side-wing of moderate size. The bend of the arm is deeply cut out above and below, and is filled by an internally riveted set of 17 curved laminations, the edges of which are decorated with etched and gilded guilloche; the gold at the normally concealed sides of these plates appears to be old. The turner of the upper cannon is finished flush with the lower portion. At the top, the edge of the opening rises towards the outer side of the arm. Here it is fitted with a riveted set of three curved laminations, the topmost of which has a restored leather tab for points. On the riveted seam of the cannon opposite is a modern leather loop for the pauldron strap. The opening for the arm is itself turned and roped as other edges and bordered by a recessed shallow band filled by candelabrum strapwork on a blackened and stippled ground. Extending down the arm from this, along both sides and the rear medial region of the vambrace are the primary motif bands.
The couter mainlame has a heart-shaped sidewing of moderate size with a distinct pucker. The mainplate is bluntly pointed at the elbow and extends around the arm, terminating in a squared end.
The sidewing is itself decorated in a like fashion to that of the poleyn. The mainlame overlaps and is riveted to a pair of narrow laminations riveted at their squared ends to the vambrace cannons.
The tubular lower cannon of two hinged plates tapers slightly to the wrist opening which is inwardly turned and roped. The hinged half has a single long protected hinge engaging a later-enlarged cutout on the pivoted portion. This is itself locked by a restored brass pivot-hook operating upwards.
Both vambraces show traces of very worn etched or incised triple thin line sets. These are found at the edges of the articulated lames on the turner of the upper cannon as well as on the lames above and below the couter mainlame.
ProvenancePer Stephen V. Grancsay in the Armory's 1961 catalogue, this armor was inherited from the Sachsen-Altenburg line by the Schwarzburg-Sondershauser in or after 1869. Ex collection, the Duke of Altenburg (Schloss Altenburg, Thuringia, Germany); Prince Schwarzburg-Sondershausen; Clarence H. Mackay (Harbor Hill, Roslyn, L.I., NY). Purchased by Museum on April 1, 1940 from Jacques Seligmann & Co. (NYC), agents for the estate of Clarence H. Mackay, their no. A-20-110. Collection transfer from Higgins Armory, January 2014.
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