Breastplate with tassets
Culture
Italian
Date1545–1550
Mediumsteel with modern leather
DimensionsWeight: 6 lb. 12 oz
ClassificationsArms and Armor
Credit LineThe John Woodman Higgins Armory Collection
Object number2014.1134.1,6,7
DescriptionNot a pair with the back. The lame surfaces are very uneven, possibly due to heavy corrosion and regrinding. The top lame is either associated or very heavily altered. The L gusset is restored, and the waist lame is an altered association. The lack of sliding rivets in the upper torso and interference of the gusset would seem to render this anima non-functional; cf. the interior structure of the RAM example as shown in Dufty. The metal is also rather thin. This may suggest that the piece was primarily ceremonial in its original intent; it may even point toward this being a 19c production heavily reworked later in the century. The bracket-cut edges across the top of the lames are very broad and loose, and interfere with the incised double horizontal line that runs across the tops of the lames; both features suggest that this was a later addition intended to harmonize the front plate with the back.ProvenanceCollection of Sir Henry Farnham Burke.Purchased by John W. Higgins on May 5, 1931 from Christie's (London, England), #59 in Sir Henry Farnham Burke Collection. Given to the Museum on December 15, 1931.
Collection transfer from Higgins Armory, January 2014.
On View
On viewCurrent Location
- Exhibition Location Gallery 2204
Jörg T. Sorg the Younger
1551
Desiderius Helmschmid
about 1552
Set/Part of a Set
