Left Cuisse with Poleyn

Datelate 16th century, with decoration from 19th century

Mediumreblued steel and brass with gilding and modern leather and velvet

Dimensions40.8 cm (16 1/16 in.), 1 lb 11 oz (weight)

ClassificationsArms and Armor

MarkingsThe lames of the right poleyn are cut with the “V”-shaped nicks on the lower left edge, top to bottom: 5 (1 later?); 6 (2 later?); 2 (edge may be cut); 1. On those of the left, the side edges have two nicks, and two on the uppermost of poleyn. The left defense has domed rivets at the lower left pivot; center of side-wing; right pivot of upper lame.

Credit LineThe John Woodman Higgins Armory Collection

Terms

Object number2014.1160.9

DescriptionCuisses with poleyns: These also are not a pair, but seem to be contemporary. Italian work, ca. 1560-65. (cf. to di Carpegna, cat. # 1, inv. #1088, pp. 3, ca. 1565; fig. 165, inv. #943 in Boccia, Lombarde, Brescian, ca. 1570; in sme, fig. 161, on a Lombardian tilt armor, ca. 1560-70 at Poldi Pezzoli, inv#1983/4; in same, fig. 156, the armor of Ottavio Farnese, ca. 1560-65, at the Waffensammlung, Vienna, inv. #A.1116).

Each is of one main plate with medial ridge. The upper edge is arched toward the outside edge, inwardly rolled and chisel-roped (the edge of the right cuisse is turned over a wire core). The edge is bordered with a broad sunken band cusped at the medial line, the band formed by a modern embossed rib (traces of embossed beginnings are visible on the inner face of both cuisses at the cusp). There are similarly fashioned ribs below, in the chevronic pattern of the breast and other components. The side edges (those of the right cuisse, and the right edge of the left are cut down slightly) and border above are filled with the star/floral rivets. At the inner upper edges of each is a modern, square, gilt buckle securing the transverse leather strap, itself secured with a domed rivet and circular rosette. The lower inner edge of the right main plate is marked with four “V”-shaped nicks at the left.

Both poleyns are associated to the main plates. These consist of two overlapping lames above (those of the left restored, re-worked at best—note the single nick of the lower plate’s left edge) and below the central lame with cusped and vertically, elliptically embossed and roped medial ridge. The integral, kidney-shaped side-wing has a pronounced pucker that terminates in a rounded projecting cusp; side-wing edges are inwardly turned and roped. The inner side of the lame is fitted with a buckle as above, with the strap secured to the central face of the side-wing. The central lame of each is later embossed en suite, and the border of the side-wing rivet-filled. The terminal lame of each poleyn has a hollow-embossed lower edge, cut slightly above with keyhole-shaped slots for the turning-pins of the greave.

There are lining rivets with traces of a lining band around the entire perimeter, including the poleyn wings, except the bottom 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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