Composite Collar, decorated with modern etched borders

Culture Northern Italian

Dateabout 1580

Mediumetched steel with leather

Dimensions15.2 × 26.7 × 22.9 cm (6 × 10 1/2 × 9 in.), 1 lb 12 oz (weight)

ClassificationsArms and Armor

Credit LineThe John Woodman Higgins Armory Collection

Terms

Object number2014.1166.2

DescriptionFormed of four lames front and rear, of which the lowest is in each case considerably deeper than the rest and shaped to the top of the trunk. The three lower lames in front appear to be associated and reworked.

The bottom three lames at the front are medially-ridged. The top lames at both the front and rear have bold, file-roped outward turns at their upper edges. The edges are in each case bordered by modern leather lining-bands secured by round-headed rivets with circular internal washers. The bottom lames have file-roped, partial inward turns at their lower edges accompanied by recessed borders. The lower edge at the rear takes the form of a single convex curve. The lower edge at the front is formed of three slightly convex sections that meet in obtuse angles at each side. The lames of both the front and rear sections are connected to one another by three internal leathers secured to each lame by single rivets except in the case of the central leather at the front which is secured to lowest lame by a pair of rivets. All of the rivets are externally flush with the exception of those in the lowest lames which are round-headed with circular internal washers. Construction-holes in the second to fourth lames at both the front and rear, aligning with the rivets that attach the outer connecting-leathers, are occupied by purely decorative round-headed rivets. The front and rear sections of the collar are connected to one another at the left side by a restored rectangular hinge secured within the ends of the front and rear top lames by pairs of vertically-aligned externally-flush rivets. The front and rear sections of the collar are fastened to one another on the right side by a plain, circular stud riveted to a tongue-like projection of the top rear lame that engages a hole in the corresponding front lame, and by a restored mushroom-shaped stud riveted to the end of the lowest rear lame that engages a keyhole-slot in the corresponding front lame. Attached by a round-headed rivet with a circular internal washer at each side of the lowest rear lame is a modern, hinged hasp terminating in a turning-pin that served to suspend a pauldron.

The upper edges of the second to fourth lames at both the front and rear are decorated with pairs of incised lines. The upper and lower borders of the collar are decorated with finely etched bands of running foliage and stylized flowers on a stippled and blackened ground.

The collar is bright with an overall light patina showing a few pits and blemishes. The lowest rear lame is cracked and chipped at the three points at the left end of its lower edge.

The lowest three lames at the front are associated. Their outer ends have been cut in modern times. The pairs of incised lines at their upper edges are modern. The centers of the lames are pierced with holes for pairs of leathering-rivets, although single rivets are used to attach connecting-leathers elsewhere. The holes at the center of the second front lame occur within a lobed projection not found on any other lame. The lowest front lame is slightly asymmetrical and its medial ridge is not aligned with those of the two lames above it. The etched decoration of the collar has been spuriously added to make it match other elements of the composite armor HAM 2588. The inspiration for the decoration appears to be that of the breastplate and tassets of HAM 2588.c, *resulting in essentially Germanic etching on an Italian collar.*
ProvenanceStadtrath Richard Zschille (Grossenhain, Saxony) Oliver H.P. Belmont (New York and Newport) Clarence H. Mackay (died 1939) Purchased by Museum on April 1, 1940 from Jacques Seligmann & Co. (NYC), agents for estate of Clarence H. Mackay, dealer's no. A-41/114. Collection transfer from Higgins Armory, January 2014.

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