1410-1430 Helmet: A fundamental innovation moving into the second decade of the fifteenth century is the fully-fledged great bascinet, having solid collar plates in the front and rear. The great bascinet is at this stage strapped down to the cuirass at the back but not at the front. An inner chin-plate protects the chin and cheeks under the front collar plate. Mail continues to cover the area formerly protected by the aventail, but is now worn as a standard or ‘pisan’.
Cuirass: The solid one-piece backplate is now married to a solid backplate, often made in three pieces, a development of earlier hinged ‘reredos’ designs. The kidney-plates have been riveted to a narrower spine-lame, instead of strapped down the centre of the back. The solid backplate is hinged to the breastplate on the left side, and strapped closed on the right, so that it can be opened to accept the wearer’s body. The cuirass skirt, continuing to be worn as a separate element, often remains hinged on both sides and fastened down the back in the manner of earlier designs. Spaudlers: Unchanged.
Arms and Legs: Unchanged. Gauntlets: Unchanged. Sabatons: Unchanged.
Fig. 1.6.
64