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Tasset: HEN.M.14F-1933

Object information

Current Location: Gallery 31 (Armoury)

Maker(s)

Unknown

Entities

Categories

Description

Tasset for left thigh, for field use. Formed of ten medially-ridged, upward-overlapping lames that widen to its lower end. The inner edge of the tasset is cut away in a shallow concave curve that becomes most pronounced immediately below the first lame. The tenth lame, which is considerably deeper than the rest, has a slightly convex lower edge with strongly rounded corners. The lower and lateral edges of the tasset have strongly file-roped inward turns accompanied by recessed borders. The border at the lower edge is enclosed above by a file-roped raised rib. The border of the tenth lame is occupied by seven brass-capped, round-headed lining-rivets with circular internal washers. The second rivet from the inner end lacks its head, while the central rivet and the innermost rivets each lack their internal washers. The borders of the lateral edges are occupied by a further ten lining-rivets of externally-flush form. The rivets occupy the inner and outer ends of the first, third, fifth, seventh and ninth lames. The upper edges of all ten lames of the tasset are decorated with single incised lines, while those of the second to tenth lames are also decorated medially with V-shaped nicks. The lames are connected to one another at their inner and outer ends by modern, brass-capped, round-headed rivets. That which connects the eighth and ninth lames at their inner ends is fitted with an octagonal internal washer. A pair of horizontally-aligned, brass-capped, round-headed rivets located in the tenth lame, immediately below the inner column of rivets, suggest that the lames were originally connected to one another at their inner ends by internal leathers. It is probable that the rivets that now connect the inner lames to one another occupy the holes for the leathering-rivets and the overlying construction-holes that were originally occupied by purely decorative, round-headed rivets. The lames were further connected to one another at their centre by an internal leather secured by single externally-flush rivets, except at the tenth lame where it was secured by a pair of brass-capped, round-headed rivets with octagonal internal washers. Only the inner of the pair of rivets is now employed to retain the present, modern leather, which has severed between the ninth and tenth lames. The unused outer rivet lacks its washer. The first lame is fitted with three modern, double-ended, tongued, iron suspension-buckles. The buckles have rounded rectangular loops and rectangular hasps with cropped corners and notched sides. They are each retained by single round-headed brass rivets. A pair of holes pierced just above the outside of the outer buckle probably represent earlier suspension-points. Part of the composite armour HEN.M.14A-L-1933.

Notes

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

Legal notes

J.S. Henderson Bequest

Measurements and weight

Depth: 8.5 cm
Height: 29.3 cm
Weight: 0.77 kg
Width: 27.9 cm

Acquisition and important dates

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

Dating

16th Century, Late
Circa 1570 - 1580

Note

North Italian

The tasset is bright with a light patination overall.

Components of the work

Leathers composed of leather ( modern)
Rivet Caps composed of brass (alloy) ( some modern)
Buckles composed of iron (metal)
Rivets composed of brass (alloy)
Borders
Decoration
Lames
Parts

Materials used in production

Steel

Techniques used in production

Hammering : Formed of ten medially-ridged, upward-overlapping lames that widen to its lower end; hammered, shaped, riveted, decorated with recessed borders, raised ribs, incised lines, V-shaped nicks and file-roping
Patinating
Forming

Identification numbers

Accession number: HEN.M.14F-1933
Primary reference Number: 17908
Stable URI

Audit data

Created: Saturday 6 August 2011 Updated: Wednesday 14 September 2022 Last processed: Friday 8 December 2023

Associated departments & institutions

Owner or interested party: The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department: Applied Arts

Citation for print

This record can be cited in the Harvard Bibliographic style using the text below:

The Fitzwilliam Museum (2024) "Tasset" Web page available at: https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/17908 Accessed: 2024-11-02 16:20:40

Citation for Wikipedia

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{{cite web|url=https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/17908 |title=Tasset |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2024-11-02 16:20:40|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

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