Left Cuisse

Culture Italian , Milan

Date1450–1490, with restorations from 1925

Mediumsteel with modern leather and restorations

Dimensions53.3 × 25.4 × 22.9 cm (21 × 10 × 9 in.), 3 lb 4 oz (weight)

ClassificationsArms and Armor

Credit LineThe John Woodman Higgins Armory Collection

Terms

Object number2014.842.5

DescriptionLeft cuisse is a composite, but with some original material. Of one main plate, with full-length medial ridge and concave, outwardly turned flanged edge. The outer side edge is fitted with two associated side-plates. These are of trapezoidal form, with a slight medial ridge, and are of decreasing size as they extend around the back of the leg. At one time there may have been another plate, or longitudinal hinge between the plates, as the inner edge of the larger plate has signs of being cut back, and the hinges, while old, are not the ones originally fitted. The out-turned, flanged edge above, and the plain vertical edge of the inner plate are bordered with ten post-contemporary domed rivets. A transverse strap from the inner side-plate engages a restored buckle on the inner upper side edge of the main cuisse plate (originally, a large leather extended from this edge; three rivets indicate its base). Pivoted at the concave upper end of the main plate are three overlapping plates, the two lower ones cusped at the pivots and at the medial ridge, and also at mid-outer face. The uppermost lame is outwardly arched, and has an out-turned flange bordered with eight rivets. Only the lowest of the three plates is original, but is associated to the main plate.

The associated poleyn is of six lames (all modern except for the central lame), edges slighly concave from the medial ridges. Two lames overlap above, and three below the central lame with very large integral, kidney-shaped side-wing. This has a distinct V-shaped pucker, and is embossed with a pair of bordering, low ribs that follow the wing outline. A tranverse buckle and strap (modern) encircles the back of the knee. The poleyn is fitted with a deep terminal lame that overlaps the greave, and has a curved and sharply pointed lower edge, and is fitted with a smilar buckle and strap that passes through the staple on the greave rearplate.

It should be noted that our left poleyn may actually be a mismounted right; the lower lames of the present right seem to belong to the proper lower edge of the present left.
Label TextPlate armor could be shaped in a multitude of ways, and the design of armor came to be a matter of fashion. The large wing at the knee of this leg-guard helped protect the back of the knee, which couldn't be covered with plates. But the shape and rippled decoration are something of a fashion statement.ProvenanceTthe fortress at Chalcis Historical and Ethnological (Now National Historical) Museum at Athens Dr. Bashford Dean (with restorations by Leonhard Hugel) Collection transfer from Higgins Armory, January 2014.

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