Backplate (body armour): HEN.M.9D-1933

Maker(s)

Unknown

Entities

• Backplate (body armour)

Categories

• Armour

Description

Backplate, for field use, later adapted for use in the annual Giuoco del Ponte in Pisa. Formed of a single plate weakly shaped to the shoulder-blades and the hollow of the back. The broad, shallow neck-opening and the arm-openings have file-roped inward turns. The backplate is decorated medially with a single incised line, now much rubbed. The lower edge of the backplate is flanged outwards to form a short skirt. The edge of the skirt, which is slightly arched at its centre, has a plain, inward turn. Attached by a single, round-headed rivet with an octagonal, internal and external washer at each shoulder is a modern, leather shoulder-strap. A vacant rivet-hole located just below each of the straps may conceivably represent their original attachment-points. Pierced some way beneath each of these holes is a later hole of larger size, fitted with a lead eyelet. Attached by a single, round-headed rivet with an octagonal, internal and external washer at each side of the waist is a modern leather strap forming a waist-belt. The left strap terminates in a modern, double-ended, tongued iron buckle with rectangular loops. Attached by a pair of flat-headed rivets midway up each of its sides is a later horizontal iron strip which is stepped at its front end and must at some time have served to connect the backplate to a breastplate. Part of the composite armour HEN.M.9A-K-1933

Notes

History note: Mr James Stewart Henderson of 'Abbotsford', Downs Road, St Helen's Park, Hastings, Sussex

Legal notes

J.S. Henderson Bequest

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Bequeathed (1933-03-16) by Henderson, James Stewart

Dating

16th Century, Late
Circa 1580 - 1590

Note

North Italian

The backplate is bright with a variable light to medium pitting and patination overall.