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Reference Image - Not for Reproduction
Left Cuisse from the field armor of Stephanus Doria
Reference Image - Not for Reproduction
Image © Worcester Art Museum, all rights reserved.

Left Cuisse from the field armor of Stephanus Doria

Artist (Southern Germany (Augsburg), ca. 1520 – 1603)
Artist (Southern Germany, Augsburg, about 1525 – 1603)
Date1551
Mediumsteel with gilding and leather
Dimensions31 × 15 × 8 cm (12 3/16 × 5 7/8 × 3 1/8 in.), 1 lb, 13 oz (weight)
ClassificationsArms and Armor
Credit LineThe John Woodman Higgins Armory Collection
Object number2014.1155.9
Description(Tassets/cuisses) These units are presently assembled as long laminated defense for each leg. The tassets probably once consisted of seven lames overlapping toward the waist and working on an internal set of leathers and sliding rivets on the outer edge of the plates. The lames are of fairly uniform depth over their length, are relatively deep, and become increasingly concave toward the body as they extend toward the knee, the side edge curving with the leg. The side edges are inwardly turned and engrailed. The basal edge of the terminal lame is also inwardly turned, but crudely engrailed. This lame may once have been fitted with studs and turning-pins to secure the topmost plate of the cuisse. The original configuration may have seen the tassets attached to the triple staps of the fauld above, but as the topmost lame is lost, and there is provision for internal leathers on the fauld, this cannot be verified (the Musterbuch does not, however, show strapped tassets).

As noted in Condition, the cuisses are lacking plates, and have been incorrectly assembled in part. It is not completely clear but it appears that there were at least ten lames per cuisse. At present, each is of eight lames, including poleyn which is fitted with a modern buckle and transverse strap. The cuisse is of five deep, curved, upwardly overlapping laminations above the poleyn mainplate, and two narrower lames below, overlapping toward the greave. The terminal lame of each is with keyhole-shaped slots at either side. The side edges of the lames and of the oval side-wing are inwardly turned and engrailed.

The cuisses and tassets are lacking their topmost lames, the lame between the present left facet and second lames is lost. The correct configuration would appear to be: (right - top to bottom) 1,2,4,3,5 (lost), 6-9; (left-ibid): 1, (lost), 2, 3, 4, 5-8.

The lames are decorated en suite with the breastplate by bands down the medial line and at either side edge. The side-wing face has a triple-foliated design etched and gilded on its surface.
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) Victor 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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