Composite "Knechtharnisch" (Black-and-White Armor)

Dateabout 1540–1625, with 19th-20th century restorations

Mediumsteel and brass with black paint and leather

Dimensions45 lb, 12 oz (weight)

ClassificationsArms and Armor

MarkingsBreastplate has a single wedge-shaped mark on the gussets, the mainplate near the right gusset at mid-height, each lame of the skirt near medial area. Also inside is a stamped upper-case "N" within a circular frame, to the left of the medial band. Outside is a single, punched dot at the top and bottom of the medial ridge exterior; Nuremberg guild-mark to the left of the upper dot. Tassets have pointed notches on the topmost lame within (two on the right, ten on the left); punched dots (right, top to bottom): 1;2;4;5;6; 0; (left): 1;2;4;5;6; 0. On the outside, the basal lame of the left has two pair of "eyebrow"-like stamped marks one over the other, to the right of the medial line, within the border. Gauntlet Lames are nick-marked once each on the outer edge of the left, and twice on the inner edge of the right. Both cuffs are stamped within, near the opening above with a reversed upper-case "N" within a pearled, circular border. A single punched dot is found on the interior edge of the first three lames below the left cuff. There are punched alignment dots on the L gauntlet knuckle lame and distal metacarpal lame.

Credit LineThe John Woodman Higgins Armory Collection

Terms

Object number2014.1143

DescriptionOf steel with leather. Open, pointed BURGONET (deaccessed) with pivoted fall & hinged cheeks. ALMAIN COLLAR (deaccessed) of 2 halves with neck flange & spaudlers of 7 lames each. BREAST with low peak, 3 recessed bands & articulated gussets. 3 lamed FAULD with strapped TASSETS of 6 lames, terminal with embossed, conjoined "AV" or "VA". One-piece high BACK (deaccessed) with basal flange. Full leg harness (deaccessed) is modern, with high 1-piece CUISSES, rounded POLEYNS with heart-shaped sidewings & terminal lames pierced for GREAVES. These are closed, with "bear-paw" SABATONS. Wide, polished medial band full-length of legs. VAMBRACES with cowters having heart-shaped sidewings. GAUNTLETS (only L retained) of fingered form. Not a pair; both originally left-handed.

Breast & gauntlets with pearled "N" of Nuremberg. Extensively composed & reworked.
ProvenanceSaid to have come from the Munich Zeughaus Edmund C. Converse (Greenwich, CT) purchased through Dr. Bashford Dean on 4 January 1912. Purchased by John W. Higgins on 26 November 1927 at the Edmund C. Converse estate sale, American Art Association (NYC); lot 293. Given to the Armory on 21 March 1928. Collection transfer from Higgins Armory, January 2014.

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