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
History note: Mr James Stewart Henderson of 'Abbotsford', Downs Road, St Helen's Park, Hastings, Sussex
J.S. Henderson Bequest
Depth: 16.5 cm
Height: 34.0 cm
Weight: 1.27 kg
Width: 34.0 cm
Method of acquisition: Bequeathed (1933-03-16) by Henderson, James Stewart
16th Century, Late
Circa
1580
-
1590
North Italian
The backplate is bright with a variable light to medium pitting and patination overall.
Buckles
composed of
iron (metal)
( modern)
Straps
composed of
leather
( modern)
Connecting Strip
composed of
iron (metal)
( to connect backplate to breastplate)
Eyelet
composed of
lead
Decoration
Parts
Hammering
: Formed of a single plate weakly shaped to the shoulder-blades and the hollow of the back; hammered, shaped, riveted, with incised and file-roped decoration
Patinating
Forming
Inscription present: an eagle in display over a letter M
Accession number: HEN.M.9D-1933
Primary reference Number: 17768
Stable URI
Owner or interested party:
The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department:
Applied Arts
This record can be cited in the Harvard Bibliographic style using the text below:
The Fitzwilliam Museum (2024) "Backplate (body armour)" Web page available at: https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/17768 Accessed: 2024-11-02 18:23:19
To cite this record on Wikipedia you can use this code snippet:
{{cite web|url=https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/17768
|title=Backplate (body armour)
|author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2024-11-02 18:23:19|publisher=The
University of Cambridge}}
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