Breastplate
Culture
Northwestern European
Dateearly 1600s
Mediumsteel and brass
Dimensions46.3 cm (18 1/4 in.), 10 lb 8 oz (weight)
ClassificationsArms and Armor
Credit LineThe John Woodman Higgins Armory Collection
Object number2014.1156.3
DescriptionEarly 17th century. Of long, flat-sided form with a defined medial ridge full-length to a residual "peascod" dip below the waistline. The shallow intergral flange dips toward the fork, and flares out over the hips. The very edge of the flange is incised obliquely, and bordered above and below a broad sunken transverse band with a pair of triple incised lines which extend along the perimeter and medial line of the breastplate. There are no gussets, the edges here as well as the neck strongly outwardly turned, slightly boxed and obliquely incised. At its upper terminals the breast is pierced with a vertical set of three punched holes, the lower of which are fitted with modern, pierced lugs for the backplate straps. It appears that the upper set of holes once held leather straps with buckles, with the lower mounted with short posts as well as those on either side of the lower half of the breast (now rivet-filled). The set of four may quite well have been mounts for a plackart (see below).
The basal flange has a dome-headed stud at each extremity (the right stud is modern), to engage the slots of the tassets. Near the fork is a set of four pierced, flattened lugs attached to rectangular plates, in turn to the flange inner face. At the left edge inner face is a generally similar plate of elongated octagonal form and bearing traces of apparent tinning. While these mounts are apparently of old metal, they seem to be later additions. The rivets about the perimeter seem to have been for a liner, now lost.
The breast is pierced on the lower right side with a vertical pair of non-threaded holes for the attachment of a bolted lance-rest. This is a modern modification.
Provenance(Armor only) No provenance prior to Andrade. Purchased by John W Higgins from Cyril Andrade, Ltd (London) on 5 October 1929. Given to the Armory on 10 December 1931. Collection transfer from Higgins Armory, January 2014.
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