Breastplate

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

Dimensions48 × 35 × 19 cm (18 7/8 × 13 3/4 × 7 1/2 in.), 8 lb 3 oz (weight)

ClassificationsArms and Armor

MarkingsStamped "W" to R of medial line at neck, with indistinct stamped mark to L. See photo in digital file.

Credit LineThe John Woodman Higgins Armory Collection

Terms

Object number2014.1139.2

Description*Breastplate is for field and Freitumier (per Norman, above), and could possibly be the type used for the Plankengestech in the Italian fashion, as suggested by the threaded holes in the waistlame.

The breastplate is rounded with asymmetrical curve along the low medial ridge, which like the degree of curvature becomes more pronounced toward the waist. It too is painted within. The neck opening is slightly depressed, with a weak inward, roped turn which is slightly stronger at mid-length. The opening is bordered with a narrow, etched and decorated like that on the top lame of the collar. The terminals of the shoulders, and the side edges below are straight, and are fitted with hinged steel straps or hasps pierced with three adjustment holes each, and etched to match the gussets.

The gussets are flexible, working on rivets and a short leather strap at the top which is riveted to the breastplate. The face of each gusset is filled with heart-shaped strapwork arabesques, alternately pointed up or down, and connected to one another by strapwork bars with a central wave motif. The background is filled with the tendrils and blackened. Extending down to the waist from the neck-and arm openings are tapered bands etched to match the mainplate of the collar.

Near the right armpit the breastplate is pierced for a lance-rest, with a vertical row of four threaded holes backed by a cross-shaped inset riveted in place. The present lance-rest is associated. Slightly below and outside of the group is a slightly rougher, threaded hole, possibly to secure a reinforce.

At the downcurved, beveled waist-edge the breastplate overlaps and is riveted to an articulated waistlame. This is relatively shallow, with an integral, downturned flange below, which is pierced at rounded lobes for the skirt riveted near the pointed ends of the flange. The lame articulates on internal leathers at either end of the breastplate, and on sliding-rivets to either side of the medial ridge. To the outside of these, the waistlame is fitted with threaded inserts for a reinforce-locking screw. At either side edge is a single, small punched hole. The original function of a filled hole on the basal edge of the breastplate, just outside of the armpit etched bands, is not known.

The flange of the waistlame is riveted to a rounded, curved skirt lame decorated en suite, and with a later articulating leather at mid-length. This lame narrows from its angular ends to the low arch at mid-length. On the upper edge at either side is a pair of modern straps for the tassets. The basal and side edges of the skirt lame are inwardly flattened and file-roped. The basal edge retains the original leather lining strap secured by flattened iron rivets. The mis-alignment of the etched bands, the imperfect fit at the ends, indications of filling around the present rivet heads, as well as what appears to be larger holes on the flange, beneath the present washers, suggest that the skirt has lost a lame above, and may have once been detachable as well. (cf. the form to A.535 in Vienna (Gamber, “Kriegwesen..”, fig. 2), those for different purposes, of A.1044, .1179 (Landshuter.. Plts. 41, 42), also A.1052 (ibid. plt. 50), and general style of the “Rosenblattgarnitur”, only A.535 has the waistlame.)
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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