Breast plate
 

Hi
I have been sent these images of a breastplate
It looks to have a piece of timber attached on the inside for wall mounting?
I can go and see tonight but am wondering what it is
I do not recognise the style and the inside of the rivets on any i have examined
had washers.
Any ideas Victorian wall hanger? or something more potential interesting
price would not be too much
Regards
Ken

more images

last one

Bizarre :o .

Fernando
I clicked in all excited that you had commented and i would get your expertese on what i have located and all I get is

Bizarre .

You must know more than that :-)

The fact of the timber so crudely attached inside is a positive to me as it might imply it was not made to be hung on a wall and is in fact European early 1800's armour

Regards

ken

Definitely no expertise by me, Ken. I only have one of these and know next to nothing about armour. By the looks of mine, its handling, its price and the seller it came from, i am aware that it is genuine. I dare say that what i like less in your example, as i called bizarre, it is not the wood of course, but the rivets and their make up. But i repeat, i know that i know nothing about these.


.

Hi Fernando,

Thanks for clarification and I appreciate your comments, on all your work not just on this item and my few posts.

The lack of washers is the big indicator to me that it is decoration piece.
I have had a few breast plates over the years and overall found there is surprisingly little information on them when you go to research what you may have.

They do look great as does your wall display,

All the best,

Ken

Thank you ken. I have just edited the display picture in my post;the one i previously uploaded was a bit outdated ;) .

I think it´s a wall hanger-piece from the late 19th century (the breastplate from the first post). :) Maybe made from two pieces and riveted because it´s easier to dish two seperate halfs instead of raising it from one sheet of metal.

Aluminium rivets ?

In your last picture, look at the shamrock shaped hole punched in the middle. Obviously made by modern tools.

Ken, I agree with your observation on this perhaps an 1800s armor, and though I cannot see how the 'timber' is not an impairment to wearing this it is hard to imagine how it was intended to be worn.


It is far too mundane, even beyond munitions grade, for anything actually intended as a 'wall hanger', despite the shape and raised lip at bottom which recalls the peas'cod type breast plates.


When I think of the home made armor that actually is known to have been made for actual use in the 1800s, an example that comes to mind actually does meet the 'bizarre' term.......that was the 'harness' devised by the Australian outlaw Ned Kelly in the late 1870s (attached). As for other instances there were steel plates and 'vests' worn in a few cases in the 'wild west' and there were cases during the Civil War of such plates.


While this is crude, there seems to have been some effort to have followed traditional styling, and in that regard, perhaps this is a stage prop for theater. There have been many cases in examining items thought to be original weapons, armor etc which have indeed turned out to be in this category.