Backplate (body armour): HEN.M.106B-1933

Maker(s)

Unknown

Entities

• Backplate (body armour)

Categories

• Armour

Description

Backplate, of munition quality, for infantry use. Formed of a main plate, a pair of side-plates, and a later-associated waist-plate. The shallow neck and arm-openings have plain inward turns accompanied by recessed borders. The lower edges of the main plate and side-plates also have plain inward turns. The lateral edges of the main plate diverge upwards and outwards to bisect the arm-openings. They overlap the inner edges of the side-plates and are secured to them by six rivets in each case. Those on the left are externally flush, while those on the right are round-headed and replaced. A rivet-hole for the attachment of a shoulder-strap is pierced at each shoulder. A later hole is pierced a short distance below that on the right, and a longer distance below that on the left. The main plate is decorated with two pairs of flutes that diverge upwards and outwards from the small of the back towards the shoulders. The outer ends of the side-plates are each pierced a short distance above the waist with a rivet-hole for the attachment of a waist-belt. Above each of these holes, a little below the armpit, is pierced a later rivet-hole. A later wiring-hole is pierced at the rear corner of each arm-opening. The lower part of the lateral edge of the left side-plate is cut with a long, shallow notch. The lower edge of each side-plate is decorated with three modern round-headed rivets, and the centre of the lower edge of the 'central' plate with two. Fitted within the lower edge of the main and side-plates is a waist-plate which is strongly boxed outwards at its lower edge. It is retained by three flat-headed rivets: one at the centre of the main plate, and another at the outer end of each of the side-plates. The lower edge of the waist-plate is pierced at either end and at the centre with rivet-holes, and at the extreme right end with a wiring-hole. Wiring-holes are also pierced mid-way down each side of the waist-plate.

Notes

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

Legal notes

J.S. Henderson Bequest

Acquisition and important dates

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

Dating

16th Century, Early#
Production date: circa AD 1510

Note

North Italian

The backplate is bright with light to the heavy pitting overall, and perforations at the outer left flute of the main plate.

The backplate was originally made for wear without a waist-plate. The waist-plate now fitted to it is therefore associated, probably in modern times since its outer ends show signs of relatively recent cutting. Although the right-side-plate is retained by modern rivets and shows some differences from the left side plate, it appears to be original to the backplate in that all its rivet-holes align perfectly with those of the main plate.