TDM-019 Part Two.qxp_Layout 1 26/05/2017 15:52 Page 105
407 A CAP-A-PIE FIELD ARMOUR IN THE LATE 15TH CENTURY GERMAN ‘GOTHIC’ STYLE, 19TH CENTURY comprising sallet with rounded one-piece crown rising to a broad hollowed medial keel, formed at its front with a single broad stepped vision-slit and extending backwards over the nape as a broad squared ‘tail’; bevor formed of a main plate shaped to the chin and fitted at its flanged lower edge with a deep gorget-plate narrowing to its lower end; collar formed of three lames front and rear; medially-ridged breastplate formed of a main plate overlapped at its lower edge by a plackart with a chevron-shaped upper edge rising to a lobate finial, and a flanged lower edge bearing a fauld of three lames, the lowest of which is cut at its centre with a shallow arch fitted internally with a skirt of mail separating a pair of short integral tassets each of two lames; backplate formed in one piece with a flanged lower edge (its centre patched); spaudlers each of three lames, the first of the right stamped at its apex with the initials ‘FD’, and both fitted at their lower edges with gutter-shaped upper cannons connected by means of internal leathers through one-piece winged couters open at their rears, to tubular lower cannons opening at the front; circular besagues each connected by a strap and buckle to the front edge of its spaudler; gauntlets each formed of a long pointed cuff open at its inside, an outer wrist-plate shaped to the end of the ulna, a single long metacarpal-plate, shaped knuckle and finger-plates, and scaled thumb and finger-defences; cuisses of long guttershaped form each embossed with a simulated side-plate and three simulated upper extension-lames, and fitted at its lower edge with a winged poleyn of six lames overlapping outwards from the third, formed with a medial keel; tubular full-length greaves opening at their outsides; and sabatons each of eight lames with pointed toe-caps and separate hinged heel-plates; all parts of the armour except for the sallet, collar, greaves and sabatons decorated with sprays of ‘Gothic’ flutes, and their main edges formed at numerous points with plain inward turns (the whole showing a light to medium patina overall and some small patches of active rust); mounted on a wooden stand with a square base £4000-6000
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