Left Vambrace
Culture
Italian
Datelate 16th–early 17th century, with decoration from 19th century
Mediumreblued steel and brass with gilding and textile
Dimensions47 cm (18 1/2 in.), 2 lb 6 oz (weight)
ClassificationsArms and Armor
Credit LineThe John Woodman Higgins Armory Collection
Object number2014.1160.7
DescriptionVambraces: As assembled, constructed in the “Italian” fashion. Upper cannon rotating in the embossed, roped race of the turner. The turner of the right, while old, is associated and embossed as the breast, but apparently at a later date. The upper edges and side seams of the turners are fitted with the stars and floral rivets. On the outer face of the turner is a modern turning-pin. Opposite this is a modern leather loop for the pauldron strap. The upper cannon is similarly decorated and embossed as the turner, but seems to be done by a different hand. The arched opening at the inner side of the arm is inwardly turned and file-marked. The lower edge at the inner rear is double-scalloped, perhaps later to match that of the left, at the pivot rivets and the area in between cut down. The original mounting holes are now vacant. The rivet at the right side is in a crudely-cut, oblique oblong slot, while that at the left has a small punched hole below.
The couters are probably associated, and are of closed bracelet form, borders embossed with a rib volute at the outer terminals. Extending transversely from rear mid-elbow around the outer side is an embossed roped rib, above and below which is a sunken border. All edges are inwardly turned and roped, roundedly cusped at the center of both faces. Centered on the outer face are two sets of star/floral rivets above and below the embossed transverse rib, and a single fitting on the inner face; these suggest that the couter was once of the “German” fashion with internal leathers. The sunken border of the outer face is filled with star/floral rivets. The couters are attached to single lames above and below with sets of modern rivets made from nails. The lower lame on the right defense has been cut off at its right edge, and both lames of the left on their horizontal edges.
The lower cannons are of two hinged halves, working on associated hinges (the upper of the left is restored) on the outer side, and secured by a drilled hole snapping over an associated peg on the inner. The cannon is secured to the couter lame with modern nail-made rivets. The pivoted lame of the right seems to have been cut down along the upper and outer edges. Edges that are finished are inwardly turned over wire cores and roped. The cannons of both defenses are not a set: the left bears traces of an incised encircling line on the wrist. Both cannons were probably later embossed en suite to the other components with the chevron motif.
Star and flower rivet heads are present around the cuff, elbow opening, cowter wing, and upper edge.
ProvenanceEx-collection of prince Peter Soltykoff (St. Petersburg, Russia, ca. 1845) le Chevalier Raoul Richards (Rome, Italy, no later than 3 March 1890) V.R. Bachereau (Paris, France, 1890(?)-1892/4(?)) Lazzarone (Italy, 1892(?)-NLT 10 December 1894) Oliver H.P. Belmont (NYC and Newport, RI, post 1894) Clarence H. Mackay (Roslyn, L.I., NLT 1939) Jacques Seligmann & Co., Inc. (NYC, to 18 July 1939) Purchased by Museum on July 18, 1939 from Jacques Seligmann & Co., Inc (NYC), agents for estate of Clarence H. Mackay. Higgins Armory Museum (Worcester, 18 July 1939-2014) Collection transfer from Higgins Armory, January 2014.
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