Greave and Sabaton for the Left Leg

Artist Pompeo della Cesa , or his workshop (Milan, about 1537–1610)

Dateabout 1575

Mediumetched steel with gilding and modern leathers

Dimensions42 × 10 × 27 cm (16 9/16 × 3 15/16 × 10 5/8 in.), 3 lb 8 oz (weight)

ClassificationsArms and Armor

Credit LineThe John Woodman Higgins Armory Collection

Terms

Object number2014.864.14

DescriptionConsists of front and rear mainplates of greave, securing on leathers and buckles; sabaton of a central plate with 4 lames above, underlapping toward the ankle, and 3 lames below plus toeplate, underlapping toward the toeplate. There is a staple riveted at the heel for a spur.
Label TextThis lower leg defense is from an armor possibly by one of the last great Italian armorers. Della Cesa included members of the Spanish royal family among his clients. The decoration of this greave in fact appears to match that of an armor worn by young Philip III (1578-1621) in a portrait from 1590/92, by Juan Pantoja de la Cruz (1553-1608), in the Prado Museum, Madrid.ProvenanceEx-collections: Mr. Victor Binder (Copenhagen) Christie's (London) Mr. Coureau unknown location Mr. S.J. Whawell (England) Mr. Clarence H. Mackay (Roslyn, L.I. according to Grancsay notes in the MMA archives Mackay purchased the harness and greaves from Whawell in 1924). Purchased by Museum on April 1, 1940 from Jacques Seligmann & Co. (NYC), agents for Clarence H. Mackay estate, dealer's no. A-21/107. Collection transfer from Higgins Armory, January 2014.

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