Almain Collar
Date1550–1600
Mediumsteel and brass with leather
Dimensions31 × 29 × 71 cm (12 3/16 × 11 7/16 × 27 15/16 in.), 4 lb 12 oz (weight)
ClassificationsArms and Armor
MarkingsWith the exception of the top left lame, all lames of both spaudlers have paired triangular marks; frontplate of collar exterior with stamped maker's mark resembling a Gothic upper-case A, F or R (see photo in digital file; cf. to those in Hornberg catalogue and on a backplate (#12) at Colombier, Switzerland, and WAM 2014.1152 breast and backplates); white-painted "M63" inside collar frontplate; inside terminal lames of the spaudlers with white-painted "Zs 20" and red-painted "62" on second lame from the top of both. HAM accession number in black on white inside frontplate.
Credit LineThe John Woodman Higgins Armory Collection
Object number2014.1149.2
DescriptionThis almain collar is a later composition, the spaulders of which are a pair (except for the top left lame) and have been brought together with the collar elements. The collar proper is of better quality than the spaudlers. It is of three plates each front and rear, working on two sets of three internal leathers. There is a full length, low medial anterior ridge that extends from the angular, closely roped turn on the top lame. The upper pair of lames front and rear are curved to the neck, with squared ends, and the uppermost set is hinged on the left and closed by a hole snapping over a low peg on the right.
The bluntly pointed front plate curves up over the tops of the shoulders where it is riveted to the rear plate on the left and secured via a crude keyhole slot and dome stud on the right.
The rearplate is of rather similar form, curved to the back of the shoulders and deepening to the medial region where its basal edge is pierced for a pair of points. The basal edges front and rear are unfinished.
Each spaulder is of six lames that overlap downward, each lame of more or less equal depth over its length, with hollow-flanged and recessed band borders at the squared ends. The terminal lame deepens as it curves down and to the rear, has a turned and roped basal edge, with a buckle and strap at the ends. The terminal lames on both sides have been embellished with engraved bracket-shaped decoration, likely added to match the breastplate.
The oblong iron buckles are plain and crude, that on the left being an old replacement. The lames work on a pair of restored leathers and a row of sliding rivets at the rear. The medial leathers are riveted to the sides of the collar, as is the anterior leather of the left spaulder. The right element has a modern extension of iron, fitted with a pierced lug terminal held fast to the frontplate by a sneck-hook.
The spaulder interiors are painted red.
ProvenanceAnonymous Eastern European collection Bashford Dean Purchased by John W. Higgins on November 23, 1928 from American Art Association (NY), lot no. 145 (Dean armor sale). Given to the Museum on December 31, 1931. Collection transfer from Higgins Armory, January 2014.
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