Composite Armor

Cultureprimarily German

Dateabout 1550–1590

Mediumsteel, brass and modern leather

Dimensions48 lb, 4 oz (weight)

ClassificationsArms and Armor

Credit LineThe John Woodman Higgins Armory Collection

Terms

Object number2014.1158

Description(a) Close helmet. (b) Gorget. (c) Breastplate. (d) Backplate. (e) Skirt with tassets. (f, g) Tasset extensions. (h, i) Poleyns. (j, k) Closed greaves with sabatons. (l, m) Pauldrons with closed vambraces. (n, o) Lames for inner elbow. (p, q) Mitten gauntlets, probably Flemish, ca. 1550-56 (not a pair). R riveted, one-piece bell-shaped flared cuff with inwardly rolled, roped, sunken border; L somewhat similar in construction & form, but larger.
ProvenanceHarness, save gauntlets and helmet: Mr. Edwin J. Brett (until c. 1895) Sold by Christie's to Mr. S.J. Whawell. Sold by Whawell in about 1922 to an unnamed English artist, who resold the armor to Mr. Whawell on 6 May 1924. Upon Mr. Whawell's death, the harness was acquired by Messrs. Liberty and Company. Purchased by John W. Higgins on October 18, 1927 from Liberty & Co for GBP500. Helmet and gauntlets : When purchased from Mr. Brett, the armor had an open-faced helmet, and lacked gauntlets (per a letter dated 22 November 1927 from Liberty and Company). Those present with the armor were purchased at the 14 June 1923 Sotheby sale of Pembroke collection by Liberty and Company for Mr. Whawell (he obviously intended to reacquire the armor at this time). The items were reacquired by Liberty and Company at Mr. Whawell's death; and later acquired by Higgins. Collection transfer from Higgins Armory, January 2014.

On View

Not on view