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Codpiece: M.1.4C-1936

Object information

Current Location: Gallery 31 (Armoury)

Maker(s)

Production: Unknown

Entities

Categories

Description

Codpiece, for infantry use. Made from a single piece of metal of sub-cylindrical form that expands slightly to its domed front end and is flanged outwards at its rear end. The front end is decorated with a medially-ridged, vertical recessed band. The upper and lower edges of the flange at the rear are obtusely pointed at their centres. Riveted at the centre of the upper edge is a transversely-pierced stud of rounded rectangular section with an octagonal, internal washer. The stud served to attach the codpiece to the lower edge of the skirt of the breastplate. Part of the composite half armour M.1.4A-E-1936.

Notes

History note: According to information probably supplied by Sir James Mann, and recorded under Acc. No. M.2-1950 in the Department of Medieval, Renaissance & Modern Works accession register, the composite armour of which the present piece forms a part was successively in the collections of [Louis] Bachereau, [S.J.] Whawell, [Sir Edward] Barry and Colville. E.W. Stead's own manuscript catalogue confirms that the armour came from the Barry collection. Mrs E.W. Stead and Mr Gilbert Stead of Dalston Hall, Cumberland.

Legal notes

Given by Mrs E.W. Stead and Mr Gilbert Stead

Measurements and weight

Depth: 9.3 cm
Height: 13.8 cm
Weight: 0.27 kg
Width: 11.4 cm

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Given (1936-01-15) by Stead, E. W. and Gilbert

Dating

16th Century, Mid#
Circa 1530 CE - 1570 CE

Note

South German

The codpiece is coloured black except in a medial band and around its flanged edge which remain bright with a light to medium patination. The present black colouring is modern but may replace an earlier black finish.

Components of the work

Front End Band
Front End
Parts

Materials used in production

Steel

Techniques used in production

Hammered : Made from a single piece of metal of sub-cylindrical form that expands slightly to its domed, medially-ridged front end and is flanged outwards at its rear end; hammered, shaped, riveted, decorated with a vertical recessed band
Blackening
Forming

References and bibliographic entries

Related exhibitions

Identification numbers

Accession number: M.1.4C-1936
Primary reference Number: 18161
Stable URI

Audit data

Created: Saturday 6 August 2011 Updated: Wednesday 14 September 2022 Last processed: Thursday 7 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) "Codpiece" Web page available at: https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/18161 Accessed: 2024-12-22 15:16:31

Citation for Wikipedia

To cite this record on Wikipedia you can use this code snippet:

{{cite web|url=https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/18161 |title=Codpiece |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2024-12-22 15:16:31|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

API call for this record

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https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/api/v1/objects/object-18161

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