"Maximilian" Field Armor of the "Fico" group, with associated helmet

Dateabout 1525–1530, with decoration about 1805; greaves and sabatons c. 1930

Mediumetched steel with modern leather and restorations

DimensionsAs Mounted: 177.8 × 83.8 × 45.7 cm (70 × 33 × 18 in.), 45 lb, 2.5 oz (weight)

ClassificationsArms and Armor

MarkingsNuremberg marks in various places, including breast and back plates, gorget, and cowter. L greave is signed 'L. Masselin armurier Roslyn."

Credit LineThe John Woodman Higgins Armory Collection

Terms

Object number2014.661

DescriptionConsists of burgonet (associated), collar, breastplate with tassets and lance-rest, backplate, pauldrons, vambraces, gauntlets, cuisses; greaves with sabatons (restored, by Leon Masselin for Clarence Mackay, c. 1930).
Label TextThe rounded breastplate, fluted design and broad toes on this armor are characteristic of the "Maximilian" style of the early 1500s. The etched decoration is actually a later addition: like many armors, this one was decorated in the early 1800s to suit contemporary expectations of what armor should look like. The etched designs were copied from another armor of the period, and feature a rude hand gesture called the "fig" (Italian fico). The decoration of a warlike artifact with frivolous images is typical of a Renaissance sense of humor.ProvenanceEx-collection of Count Erbach (by 1808, until 1926) Clarence Mackay, Roslyn NY (greaves added at this time) Purchased by Museum on April 1, 1940 from Jacques Seligmann & Co. (NYC), agents for the estate of Clarence H. Mackay. Collection transfer from Higgins Armory, January 2014.

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