Armor breastplate for coments

[fernando]

Now, what have i got here?
Seller dated it XVI century; do you Gentlemen think so? Maybe XVII?
It was tagged as European. I believe so; anyway, it came from a Spanish website.
Height: 35 cms.
Thickness: varying from 2 to 4 mm.
It appears to be a cavalry specimen, judging by that litte recess i the bottom, to fit the saddle ... is this correct?

Amazing thing:
While i was searching for info on these things, i have read that they used to be tested with a musket shot from a regulation distance, in a way that many surviving specimens still keep the mark of such shot.
I wonder if the cavity that is visible on the center of this example was a result of such test .

As usual, your kind coments will be much welcome.

Fernando

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[celtan]

Hola Nando,

"Feels" Iberian, either spanish or portuguese. I agree with your asessment, the holes on its lower right and left are there for missing supports, for lance, shield or harquebus.

Best

M

[fernando]

Hi Manolo,

Originally Posted by celtan

..."Feels" Iberian, either spanish or portuguese. I agree with your asessment, the holes on its lower right and left are there for missing supports, for lance, shield or harquebus...

I thought these holes once had rivets to buckle the straps that hold the front to the back plate .
Fernando

[fernando]

It has arrived... and is already hanging on the wall .
Comparing to the usual specs. (Wallace collection), this is a rather heavy example, with its 4,4 Kgs (nearly 10 pounds).
Besides the usual (missing rivets) holes for the usual strapping to the backplate and (maybe) to the tassets, it has an intriguing set of smaller holes on the left chest, however too low for holding a tilt shoulder (pauldron).
Could they be for an insignia? Unlikely, though.
Oh, i wish these things could speak, to tell their history.
One thing i have just read is that, apparently, Portuguese didn't make armour, instead imported it from Italy and Germany.
However Spaniards did. But if the (Spanish) seller tags this example as being European, could be because he has reasons to beleive this is not Spanish.
Aren't there any armour experts around, to have a say about this item ... please?
Fernando

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[celtan]

Nice conversation center !

: )

Originally Posted by fernando

It has arrived... and is already hanging on the wall .
Comparing to the usual specs. (Wallace collection), this is a rather heavy example, with its 4,4 Kgs (nearly 10 pounds).
Besides the usual (missing rivets) holes for the usual strapping to the backplate and (maybe) to the tassets, it has an intriguing set of smaller holes on the left chest, however too low for holding a tilt shoulder (pauldron).
Could they be for an insignia? Unlikely, though.
Oh, i wish these things could speak, to tell their history.
One thing i have just read is that, apparently, Portuguese didn't make armour, instead imported it from Italy and Germany.
However Spaniards did. But if the (Spanish) seller tags this example as being European, could be because he has reasons to beleive this is not Spanish.
Aren't there any armour experts around, to have a say about this item ... please?
Fernando

.

[M ELEY]

No expert, but I think Manolo is right. These marks could correspond to the support for a jousting lance. Still, this appears to be a legit fighting piece of armor vs something used for the festivals or tournament.
BTW, posting a much later breast plate (ca 1810-30) on the Swap...

[celtan]

Howdy Nando,

It well might be so, but the ones I have previously seen both for the mounting of taces and for straps used only two holes. The way forward position of these, and the position of the wider side of the triangle upwards makes me think these were instead supports for something else...

It is theoretically possible that I might be mistaken, though...

: )

M

Originally Posted by fernando

Hi Manolo,



I thought these holes once had rivets to buckle the straps that hold the front to the back plate .
Fernando