Right Tasset

Date1550-1600

Mediumsteel with black paint and leather

Dimensions37 × 25 × 14.5 cm (14 9/16 × 9 13/16 × 5 11/16 in.), 2 lb 10 oz (weight)

ClassificationsArms and Armor

MarkingsTassets have pointed notches on the topmost lame within (two on the right, ten on the left); punched dots (right, top to bottom): 1;2;4;5;6; 0; (left): 1;2;4;5;6; 0. On the outside, the basal lame of the left has two pair of "eyebrow"-like stamped marks one over the other, to the right of the medial line, within the border.

Credit LineThe John Woodman Higgins Armory Collection

Terms

Object number2014.1143.3

DescriptionThese have been reworked and restored to make a pair "en suite" with the breastplate and skirt; they have been composited from at least 3 sources (in both cases, lames 1, 4, and 5, counting from the top might be a group; 2 and 3 could be a group; and the terminal lames at the bottom match only each other). None of the lames can be identified as belonging with the breastplate. The right tasset has been repainted more recently than the left, with glossy black paint.

The tassets are of six lames curved to the upper leg, and narrowing somewhat to the basal lame, and work on a pair of internal leathers each and sliding-rivets at the outer edges. The top pair of lames are trapezoidal, cut with a rounded arc at the inner end. The three below are rectangular, of equal depth. Except for the terminal lames, all plates are embossed at the ends with a low, raised plain white band, and along the medial line with a low triangular-section sunken band, the top edge of which is ogee-cut on each lame. The deep terminal lames are bevelled on the straight top edge, and curved below, inwardly turned over a wire core and file-roped. The basal edge is bordered by a double-sunken shallow recessed white band, the lower of which is broad and rivet-filled. These bands are drawn up into an acute cusp at the full-length medial ridge. Centered on the face of each terminal lame is an embossed monogram formed from the intertwined letters "AV" and "VA" (see Fanger, fig 6.) At mid-height on the sides are restored leather loops for the tapes securing the defense to the leg; the outer set has been re-located outboard of their original holes. Near either end of the topmost lame on each tasset is an oblong buckle for the skirt straps; empty holes at both buckles on the right defense, and near the outer of the left indicate that they have been relocated.
ProvenanceSaid to have come from the Munich Zeughaus Edmund C. Converse (Greenwich, CT) purchased through Dr. Bashford Dean on 4 January 1912. Purchased by John W. Higgins on 26 November 1927 at the Edmund C. Converse estate sale, American Art Association (NYC); lot 293. Given to the Armory on 21 March 1928. Collection transfer from Higgins Armory, January 2014.

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