Left Pauldron
Culture
Flemish
Dateabout 1625
Mediumsteel and leather
Dimensions43.2 × 30.5 × 17.8 cm (17 × 12 × 7 in.), 3 lb 7 oz (weight)
ClassificationsArms and Armor
Credit LineThe John Woodman Higgins Armory Collection
Object number2014.807.1
DescriptionMate to WAM 2014.807.2. Bright steel, once blackened. Symmetrical, & made for use without vambrace. Squarish, with rounded corners, extending deeply over chest & shoulderblade, formed of 12 lames, those above & below overlapping away from mainlame. Perimeter edge inwardly turned & roped, lame edges bracket-cut & cusped, followed by decorative & functional rivets. At front & rear, mainlame has incised, petalled motif, circularly studded with decorative iron rivets. Similar motif found on deep terminal lame, curving down over outside of arm to which it is held via a leather strap & oval iron buckle. Similar buckle found on topmost lame, to rear of full length medial ridge.
Within, rivet retains section of velvet-covered, gilded thread-edged strapping.
All lames, except topmost have traces of thin line incised decoration near edges & in bands across mainlame face & down flanges at armpit.
ProvenanceCollection of Henry Griffith Keasbey (1850–1932); purchased by the Brummer Gallery [object inventory no. N862 and N863], New York, from the Keasbey collection sale, no. 126, American Art Galleries, New York, November 27, 1925; sold to John W. Higgins, Worcester, MA, March 15, 1937; collection transfer from Higgins Armory to the Worcester Art Museum, January 2014.
On View
Not on viewDesiderius Helmschmid
about 1552