Backplate

Culture Northern German , perhaps Saxony

Date1555–1560

MediumEtched and blackened steel

Dimensions42.3 × 44 × 23 cm (16 5/8 × 17 5/16 × 9 1/16 in.), 7 lb 1 oz (weight)

ClassificationsArms and Armor

Credit LineThe John Woodman Higgins Armory Collection

Terms

Object number2014.1147.4

DescriptionThe associated backplate is boxed, embossed at the shoulder-blades, and fitted with a restored, single-lame culet, of form and decoration similar to the fauld. Like the fauld, the culet is riveted to the basal flange which is mounted with a pair of rivets at the medial lines. It is also fitted with pierced lugs for the pivot-hooks of additional lames, now lacking.

The upper extremities and sides of the backplate are fitted with modern slotted posts for the straps and cotter-pins of the breastplate. The originally-mounted leather straps of the shoulders were riveted to a pair of holes at each shoulder, the now space holes rivet-filled. The holes at the waist, which once secured the leather waist-belt are also rivet-filled.

The upper edge, and those at the armpits are inwardly turned and flattened, file-roped on the outside, and marked with a pair of vertical nicks on the inner face of the upper edge (cf. to those of the breast).

Decoration of the backplate is generally similar to that of the breast, but lacks the thin etched and blackened bordering lines of the pelleted bands at the armpits, in turn bordered with a sunken, blackened band; the file-marks of the edges are less defined than the chiselled ones of the breast, and also lack the raised moulding at the centers; the decorative motifs lack the mothers and babes, birds. The central candelabrum-like etched motifs include nude male torsos (some with Turkish head-dress and spear-armed), grotesque masks, satyrs, greyhounds, a bull's head with drapery (exorcism?). The pelleted band border is spaced with a vertical set of dots, unlike those of the breast, which is randomly dotted. The ogival frieze at the top, and the bands at the armpits are much those of the breast, but with the two outermost of equal width.
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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