Composite Armor from Two Garnitures
Artist
Franz Großschedel
, and/or (Landshut, Southern Germany, 1555 – 1580)
Artist
Wolfgang Großschedel
(Landshut, Southern Germany, 1517 – 1562)
Date1560–1570
Mediumsteel and brass with modern leather and cordage
Dimensions150.5 cm (59 1/4 in.), 42 lb. 6 oz. (weight)
ClassificationsArms and Armor
Credit LineThe John Woodman Higgins Armory Collection
Object number2014.1139
DescriptionAsterisks denotes individual garnitures Note: the asterisks indicate the groups of those elements belonging together. *= indicates 1st garniture, **= indicates 2nd garniture. See digital file for closeups of the etched motifs.**Garniture no.2: other pieces belonging to this group are unknown to this cataloger, with the possible exception of the breastplate in the possession of Duke Albrecht von Wittelsbach-Bayern; according to the owner, this was the property of Albrecht V, Duke of Bavaria (see his armor, dated 1549, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, acc. no. 06. 1172. 10/09.68. 206. This is ex-collection the Dukes of Erbach). Duke Albrecht is known to have become obese in later life; our legs, if belonging to an armor of his, show that he had not become so by ca. 1560-70, when he would have been about 32-42 years old.
The first group (*) consists of Collar, Breastplate and Backplate, Pauldrons, and Vambraces.
The second group (**) consists of Tassets, Cuisses, Greaves with sabatons.
There is also an associated lance-rest, from the 2nd half of the 16th century, probably Augsburg.
The tassets are of generally similar style to the breastplate but do not belong. There is no helmet or gauntlets (the helmet formerly with this armor is now 2014.1100).
Label TextWolfgang and Franz Grossschedel were two of the most famous armorers of the mid 1500s. Wolfgang worked in Henry VIII's royal armory at Greenwich during 1517-18, and for the Bavarian court in 1540 and 1545. He also built armors for Philip II of Spain and his son. Franz gained even greater renown than his father and was one of the most sought-after armorers of the 1560s and 70s. He too made armor for Philip II, as well as for other members of the Spanish court, the dukes of Bavaria, and the Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian II. He was ennobled for his efforts in 1566.ProvenanceEx-collection the duc de Noailles (France) the dealer Foury (Paris) Clarence H. Mackay (Roslyn, L.I.) Purchased by the Armory from the estate of Clarence H. Mackay, through Jacques Seligmann & Co. (New York City) on 1 April 1940, their number A-5/115. Collection transfer from Higgins Armory, Janaury 2014.
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