Breastplate

Culture Northern German , perhaps Württemberg

Dateabout 1580

Mediumpainted steel with modern leather

Dimensions41.9 × 39.4 × 19.1 cm (16 1/2 × 15 1/2 × 7 1/2 in.), 6 lb (weight)

ClassificationsArms and Armor

MarkingsTerminal lame of fauld has a re-struck, single "antler" mark of Wurttemberg to left of fork on inner face (see photo in digital file); another antler on lowest (6th ) lame of both tassets; right inside of breast with black-painted letters "VK" (?) ; "V"-shaped nicks and serial dots throughout.

Credit LineThe John Woodman Higgins Armory Collection

Terms

Object number2014.1144.3

DescriptionBreastplate is of "long-bellied" shape, with defined medial ridge, reaching a dipped peak just above the waist line. Flexible gussets with modern buckles and leathers at their upper terminals. Gussets and upper edge of the breast have strong, boxed stop ribs which are inwardly turned and roped (the upper and right gusset edges are marked with a single, "V"-shaped nick at the mid-point, the left gusset with two near the upper pivot of the gusset).

The basal flange of the breastplate is fitted with a two-lame skirt, riveted near the terminals. This skirt (which probably would have included another lame above) seems to have been made from two associated pieces, possibly from the same workshop. The uppermost lame, however, may have been embossed to match the lower; there is a poor fit between the two, both lames are marked with a single "V"-shaped sequence nick, the alignment of the decorated bands and the fit of the uppermost lame to the flange is poor. Lastly, the use of the sliding rivets on the uppermost lame is prevented by the riveting together of the skirt lames. The breastplate flange has a second set of holes now vacant, probably for now-lost leathers.

The decoration of the breastplate and its skirt consists of the "wave" pattern as found on the fall, carried along the ogival frieze at the neck, along the gussets, and longitudinally along the outer edges of the skirt lames (plus both edges of the tassets), and rounded transversely over the fork which is pierced with a rough, keyhole-shaped slot for a brayette (lacking), and has a roughly turned edge below.

Bordering the "wave" decoration, and passing longitudinally along the medial ridge and from the center of the gussets, down the skirt to either side of the medial line and down the center of the tassets is a slightly raised strip with narrow, blackened and sunken borders.
Provenance(Possibly) ex-S.J. Whawell Collection, lot 382 (p. 67) 5 May 1927 sale at Sotheby's Theodore Offerman. Purchased by John W. Higgins on 27 September 1927 from Theodore Offerman (of New York Galleries). Given to the Higgins Armory Museum on 15 December 1931. Collection transfer from Higgins Armory, Janaury 2014.

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