A pair of tassets, for use by a cuirassier. Each formed of eight medially-ridged, upward-overlapping lames that are increasingly curved to the thigh from the top to the bottom. The inner edge of each tasset is cut away from the bottom of the third lame to the bottom of the eighth lame. The lames are connected to one another by three internal leathers, except at the outer ends of the fifth to eighth lames where the outer leather gives way to sliding-rivets. Each tasset retains a large part of its leather lining-bands. Riveted within each end of the eighth lame is a leather loop that served to tie the tasset around the leg. On the right tasset, the inner loop is incomplete and the outer loop is missing. The first lame of each tasset is fitted with three modern, double-ended, tongued, iron suspension-buckles. The eighth lame, which is longer than the rest, is decorated with three groups of brass-capped, round-headed rivets in rosette formation. The main edges of the tassets are decorated with file-roped inward turns accompanied by recessed borders. The secondary edges are filed with ogees at their centres and with two low cusps at each side. A crack at the centre of the lower edge of the right tasset is repaired with a riveted internal patch. Part of the composite half armour HEN.M.16A-F-1933.
History note: Mr James Stewart Henderson of 'Abbotsford', Downs Road, St Helen's Park, Hastings, Sussex.
J.S. Henderson Bequest
Method of acquisition: Bequeathed (1933-03-16) by Henderson, James Stewart
17th Century, Early#
Production date:
circa
AD 1620
It is probable that the tasset, as now preserved, represents the upper sections of what was originally a pair of divisible knee-length tassets.
The tassets are bright with a medium patination overall.
Buckles
composed of
iron (metal)
( modern)
Rivet Caps
composed of
brass (alloy)
Internal Leathers
composed of
leather
Lining-bands
composed of
leather
Left Tasset
Depth 9.0 cm
Height 43.0 cm
Weight 1.32 kg
Width 32.0 cm
Right Tasset
Depth 9.2 cm
Height 41.0 cm
Weight 1.24 kg
Width 31.5 cm
Borders
Decoration
Lames
Parts
Hammering
: Each formed of eight medially-ridged, upward-overlapping lames that are increasingly curved to the thigh from the top to the bottom; hammered, shaped, riveted, with file-roped decoration and recessed borders
Patinating
Forming
Accession number: HEN.M.16D-1933
Primary reference Number: 17981
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) "Tassets" Web page available at: https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/17981 Accessed: 2024-12-22 14:11:35
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{{cite web|url=https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/17981
|title=Tassets
|author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2024-12-22 14:11:35|publisher=The
University of Cambridge}}
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