Breastplate from the field armor of Stephanus Doria

Artist, etched by Jörg T. Sorg the Younger (Southern Germany, Augsburg, about 1525 – 1603)

Date1551

Mediumetched and gilded steel, brass and leather

Dimensions49.5 × 34.3 × 16.5 cm (19 1/2 × 13 1/2 × 6 1/2 in.), 9 lb, 13 oz (weight)

ClassificationsArms and Armor

Credit LineThe John Woodman Higgins Armory Collection

Terms

Object number2014.1155.3

DescriptionFashioned of heavy steel in the long-bellied form with waistlame so popular during the mid-16th century. The curved neck and armpit gussets articulate inwardly turned, engrailled edges. The restored gussets articulate on rivets above and below. At each shoulder is a restored brass buckle for the backplate straps.

The breastplate has a low medial ridge which projects slightly forward to the waist. On the upper right of the breast is fitted a screw-attached, pivoted restored lance-rest. The lower edge of the mainplate is slightly bevelled, and overlaps a rounded deep waistlame to which it is articulated by restored rivets at either side and at the medial line. The lame dips slightly below the waist, and is finished with a narrow flange to which is riveted a fauld of two upwardly overlapping lames. The topmost of this works on restored sliding-rivets at the ends. The lames conform to the "spring" of the hips, and narrow in depth towards the groin. The basal lame is roundedly arched on its lower edge where it is finished as the neck and armpits. This lame is presently fitted with a triple set of straps on each side for the buckles on the tassets. In addition to partially-punched empty holes, the fauld also has rivets on their mounts for internal leathers of permanent tassets below. These holes align well with the upper groups of tasset lames now attached to the laminate cuisses.

Bordering the neck on both gussets, and on the sides and fork of the fauld lames are repousseed and etched bands of alternating blackened and gilded voluted foliate lobated interlocked motives filled with tendrils, on a stippled ground. These are framed by shallow recessed plain bands with gilded candelabrum or undulating running-vine motives, themselves edged by thin etched blackened lines. A similar band decorates the waistline. Extending along the medial line, and from the armpits, down across the fauld lames are broad bands also repousseed and etched, These however, are decorated with a repeated pattern consisting of a blackened oval cartouche filled with foliate tendrils. In the center is a recessed lobated lozenge with a candelabrum treatment of leaved tendrils. All of the decoration is on stippled ground and is formed by recessed bands similar to those noted above. See photos of etching in digital file.

The decoration is very similar to that of the gauntlets, but not a match.

Gilding is modern. Restored gussets and waistlames (2 separate stages of restoration).
Label TextThis breastplate belongs to a field armor made for Stephanus Doria in 1551 by Anton Peffenhauser of Augsburg, and etched by Jörg T. Sorg the Younger. Doria served Duke Charles III of Savoy (1504-1553), and after 1557 was supreme commander of Genoese troops. A relative of the famous admiral Andrea Doria, Stephanus died in 1580.Provenance[Excluding helmet]: Mr. Henry (Paris, pre 1886, then joined gauntlets to harness without helmet) Mr. Barré (Paris?, 1886-?) Chevalier Raoul Richards (Rome, to 1890) V.R. Bachereau (Paris; seems to have brought helmet/armor together) George Jay Gould (NYC; part of armor) Duveen Brothers (NYC) Purchased with armour by John W. Higgins on 18 January 1928 from Duveen Brothers (their no. C3177G); Given to Armory on 21 March 1928. Collection transfer from Higgins Armory, January 2014.

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