Early Breast plate – query is this an armourers mark

A Senefelder · 18th October 2015, 05:31 PM

Cathy, your attributation of late 16th century is probably correct as roping as a decorative motif for rolled and counter sunk borders tappers off pretty quickly in the 17th century and this example has nice closely set ropping on its borders. An earlier 17th century attributation is also possible as the use of a pattern of decorative rivets became a common practice in the 17th century ( often by mid century it was the only decorative element ). The stamped/punched mark at this late date is more likely to be a municipal armoury or city control mark than a makers mark. While a nicer example of it this breast plate is still of munitions manufacture ( which increasingly was all that was being produced to accommodate the growing protonationional professional armies of the early modern military era ) for " issue " to an officer of troops rather than a high end custom piece for a member of the nobility. This is a nice score, it appears to be in great shape!

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18th October 2015, 05:31 PM	#2
A Senefelder Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 214	Cathy, your attributation of late 16th century is probably correct as roping as a decorative motif for rolled and counter sunk borders tappers off pretty quickly in the 17th century and this example has nice closely set ropping on its borders. An earlier 17th century attributation is also possible as the use of a pattern of decorative rivets became a common practice in the 17th century ( often by mid century it was the only decorative element ). The stamped/punched mark at this late date is more likely to be a municipal armoury or city control mark than a makers mark. While a nicer example of it this breast plate is still of munitions manufacture ( which increasingly was all that was being produced to accommodate the growing protonationional professional armies of the early modern military era ) for " issue " to an officer of troops rather than a high end custom piece for a member of the nobility. This is a nice score, it appears to be in great shape!