Skip to main content

Couter: HEN.M.135A-1933

Object information

Awaiting location update

Maker(s)

Production: Unknown

Entities

Categories

Description

Couter, from a type of arm-defence known as a 'splint', worn with a type of infantry armour known as an 'almain rivet'. Formed of a single, shell-like plate, open at the rear and slightly shaped to the point of the elbow. Its outer edge is almost straight. Its upper and lower edges diverge from the outside to the inside of the elbow where they curve in markedly to a strong medial pucker. The upper and lower edges of the couter are each decorated at the front with a single flute of v-section bordered by an incised line. A pattern of close-set, almost parallel flutes, separated by incised lines, decorates the front face of the couter except near its upper and lower edges. The centre of the front face is fitted with a modern round-headed rivet to retain the missing internal leather that originally connected the couter to the upper and lower elements of the arm-defence. A modern, plain single-ended buckle with a central tongue and leather hasp is attached within the centre of the rear edge of the couter by a modern round-headed rivet and octagonal internal washer. It engages a modern strap which is secured within the centre of the inner end by a similar rivet and washer. Together with HEN.M.135B-1933, which forms a near pair to it

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: 9.7 cm
Height: 16.3 cm
Weight: 0.295 kg
Width: 15.1 cm

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

The couter is bright with light pitting and patination overall.

Components of the work

Hasp composed of leather ( modern)
Decoration
Parts

Materials used in production

Steel

Techniques used in production

Hammered : Formed of a single, shell-like plate, open at the rear and slightly shaped to the point of the elbow; hammered, shaped, riveted, decorated with fluted and incised decoration
Patinating
Formed

Inscription or legends present

Inscription present: '2354' over the letter 'a'

  • Text: 2354/a
  • Location: Inside
  • Method of creation: Painted in red
  • Type: Mark

Identification numbers

Accession number: HEN.M.135A-1933
Primary reference Number: 18617
Stable URI

Audit data

Created: Saturday 6 August 2011 Updated: Wednesday 11 January 2023 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) "Couter" Web page available at: https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/18617 Accessed: 2024-11-22 02:20:38

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/18617 |title=Couter |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2024-11-22 02:20:38|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

API call for this record

To call these data via our API (remember this needs to be authenticated) you can use this code snippet:

https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/api/v1/objects/object-18617

Sign up for updates

Updates about future exhibitions and displays, family activities, virtual events & news. You'll be the first to know...