Almain Collar
Culture
German
Datelate 1500s
MediumEtched and blackened steel and leather
Dimensions18.6 × 78.5 × 26.3 cm (7 5/16 × 30 7/8 × 10 3/8 in.), 6 lb 8 oz (weight)
ClassificationsArms and Armor
Credit LineThe John Woodman Higgins Armory Collection
Object number2014.1147.2
DescriptionOf steel in the form commonly referred to as an Almain-collar with spaulder-type pauldrons. This is associated and etched later. Collar proper of front- and rearplates pivoted on a single rivet (modern?) at the left, and secured on the right by a keyhole-shaped slot engaging a rounded stud on the rearplate. The lower edge of the frontplate dips to a rounded point at the full-length medial ridge. The upper edge is slightly bevelled, with a "v"-shaped nick at the center. On the mid-right side of the frontplate is an irregularly "T"-shaped slot for the studded tab of the right spaudler. The similarly-formed rearplate has a boxed lower edge. At the shoulders, this plate is mounted with a set of inwardly secured, bilobate straps (modern) for the alignment of the breastplate straps. Both of the collar plates have a lightly embossed transverse ridge, running full-length approximately 20 mm below the upper edge. The associated neck defense is of three lames front and rear, hinged on the left upper lame, and secured at the right by a hole snapping over a peg. The set of lames articulates on six restored internal leathers. The topmost lame is pierced along its inwardly turned and roped hollow rim with ten pairs of holes for attachment of a lining (lacking). The two lower frontal lames are restorations. All of the rivets and most washers are also modern. The decoration, etched en suite with that of the cuirass consists of bands with indulating foliate tendrils, flora, vegetation, birds, hounds, satyrs, cornucopia, drapery and candelabra-like forms on a granular, blackened ground within thin, etched and blackened plain lines. The lower edges of the collar mainplate are hollow, with inward turns, and bordered with a set of raised lines, originally cusped at the medial line. Like those of the gorget plates, these bands are alternately blackened plain and pelleted. There are also three evenly-spaced longitudinal bands extending along the neck lames down over the collar plates proper. The topmost neck lame is transversely decorated about its perimeter.
The spaudlers are of nine downward overlapping lames each, decorated with longitudinal foliage as the collar proper but of differing character. Both uppermost and possibly the proper right terminal lames are restorations. The lames work on posterior sliding-rivets (modern), central and anterior modern leathers attached to the collar. The anterior leather of the right defense terminates in an irregularly rectangular form iron tab and dome-headed stud (both modern) which engages the "T"-slot on the collar foreplate. The thick lame from the top on each spaudler is fitted on the front face with a vertical set of floral-formed rosette lines for points. The terminal basal lames are each fitted with a transverse buckle-and-strap, the leather secured with a modern rivet and ancient rosette. The anterior edges of the lames are vertically slotted to receive the strap tongue.
ProvenanceSaid to be from the Dresden Museum and Erich Haenel of Dresden Galleries ex-collection of Dr. Bashford Dean (his #11) purchased by John Higgins on 28 September 1929. Given to the Armory on 15 December 1931. Collection transfer from Higgins Armory, January 2014.
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