Ethnographic Arms & Armour
 

Go Back   Ethnographic Arms & Armour > Discussion Forums > European Armoury
FAQ Calendar Today's Posts Search

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
Old 17th October 2015, 06:13 AM   #1
Cathey
Member
 
Cathey's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: adelaide south australia
Posts: 282
Default Early Breast plate – query is this an armourers mark

Hi Guys

Armour is far from my area of expertise, however we picked up this early breast plate at auction recently and I am trying to decide if it has an armorers mark or not.

The Breast Plate has roped decoration to neck and arm areas; and is of the pea’scod form; decorated with faint engraved lines; brass studs to skirt with areas of fine pitting & soft light brown patina; good cond. Circa late 16th. On the left shoulder there is what appears to be a punched mark, looks a bit like a bird. I am beginning to think that this one may be Italian? and I would be grateful to hear from anyone who is more familiar with armour than ether Rex nor I.

Cheers Cathey and Rex
Attached Images
   
Cathey is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 18th October 2015, 06:31 PM   #2
A Senefelder
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 214
Default

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!
A Senefelder is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 25th October 2015, 01:31 AM   #3
Cathey
Member
 
Cathey's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: adelaide south australia
Posts: 282
Default Ant thought as to country of origin

Hi Senefelder

Thanks for your response to my post, and you have confirmed my earlier thoughts. However, do you have a view as to country of Origin, I am leaning towards Italian simply from other examples I have seen.

Cheers Cathey and Rex
Cathey is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 27th October 2015, 12:20 PM   #4
A Senefelder
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 214
Default

Quote:
ever, do you have a view as to country of Origin, I am leaning towards Italian simply from other examples I have seen.
Nothing that would definitely nail it down. The Italians did somtimes do roping ( the small chisel cut angled lines on the rolled and counter sunk borders ) in a tighter set like this but the radiating pairs of rayed lines from the waist to the arm and neck opening and same paired lines around said openings for decoration can be found around the continent in the late 16th and earlier 17th century.
A Senefelder is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 01:37 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Posts are regarded as being copyrighted by their authors and the act of posting material is deemed to be a granting of an irrevocable nonexclusive license for display here.