Breastplate (body armour): HEN.M.24B-1933

Current Location: In storage

Maker(s)

Production: Unknown (Probable)

Entities

Description

Breastplate and associated tassets, for use by a pikeman. The breastplate is of late 'peascod' fashion with a deep flange at the waist, forming an integral skirt. Its arm-openings and deep, narrow neck-opening have plain inward turns. The turns and the upper end of the skirt are each bordered by two rows of round-headed rivets. The breastplate is decorated with three bands that diverge from the waist to the neck and arm-openings where they merge with similar bands, in each case formed of pairs of deeply-incised lines. Each side of the chest is pierced with a pair of holes that would originally have been fitted with a pierced stud and swivel-hook to engage the shoulder-straps of the backplate. Each side of the breastplate is pierced with a pair of rivet-holes, probably for the attachment of hasps to connect it to the backplate. The upper end of the skirt is decorated with a raised band accompanied by a single incised line. Each side of the skirt is fitted with a pair of hinges for the suspension of a pair of tassets. The outer hinge in each case is of large, elaborate form and attached by a swivel-hook and stud at its upper end, and seven rivets at its lower end. The inner hinge is of small rectangular form and attached by a single rivet top and bottom. The rectangular tassets are each formed in one piece and embossed to simulate seven lames. Each lame is decorated at its upper edge with a single incised line. The lower and lateral edges of the tassets have plain, inward turns accompanied by recessed borders containing round-headed lining-rivets. Each tasset is decorated with three vertical lines of round-headed rivets. Part of the composite pikeman's armour HEN.M.24A-B-1933.

Notes

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

Legal notes

J.S. Henderson Bequest

Measurements and weight

Depth: 19.4 cm
Height: 63.5 cm
Weight: 3.96 kg
Width: 59.3 cm

Acquisition and important dates

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

Dating

17th Century#
Production date: circa AD 1630

Note

Part of the composite pikeman's armour HEN.M.24-1933. The tassets are associated with the breastplate and do not form an exact pair. The breastplate and tassets are now coloured russet and black, with some bright patches at worn points, but may originally have been blackened.

Components of the work

Decoration
Parts
Skirt, Upper End
Skirt
Tassets, Borders
Tassets, Decoration
Tassets

Materials used in production

Steel

Techniques used in production

Hammering : The breastplate is of late 'peascod' fashion with a deep flange at the waist, forming an integral skirt, the rectangular tassets are each formed in one piece and embossed to simulate seven lames; hammered, shaped, riveted, decorated with raised bands, recessed borders, rivets and incised lines
Forming