Backplate

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

Dimensions39 × 26 × 17 cm (15 3/8 × 10 1/4 × 6 11/16 in.), 4 lb 7 oz (weight)

ClassificationsArms and Armor

Credit LineThe John Woodman Higgins Armory Collection

Terms

Object number2014.1139.3

Description*Backplate belongs to the breastplate and collar, and is elegantly formed. It extends from tops of shoulders, narrowing slightly toward waist with articulated waistlame flanged and fitted with short lugs for the culet which is lost. The mainplate is broad-shouldered, and well embossed for the shoulderblades. The neck opening is shallow and near-level, with a narrow inward turn like that of the breastplate. The squared terminals at the shoulders are shallow and wide, and were once fitted with either threaded inserts for bolts, of had spring-loaded posts for the shoulder straps. These have been replaced with threaded stock which is riveted in place, and now have spirally fluted, domed screws with nuts. The openings for the arms are nearly vertical, and sweep well forward to slightly rounded side edges that are plain and unturned, curving around the sides of the torso. The openings are turned as that of the neck. Below the arms the sides have a pierced, rounded post for the side-hasps forward. The basal edge of the backplate is straight and well-bevelled.

Working on sliding-rivets in the center, and at either side is a curved waistlame, overlapped by the backplate above. The lame has rounded lobes at the rivets, and a narrow flange below. This is fitted with a small, pierced rounded post beneath the rivets, and is preserved with holes between. The lugs were probably locked by pivot-hooks on the culet or a tonlet (if used for the Fusstumier). (cf. to A.1179 at Vienna. See Landshuter Plattnerkunst, plt. 43).
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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