Lichfield District Council
Waist from Suit of Field Armour - German Origin - Circa 1600
Location: Lichfield District Council
Accession number: Armour No. 2
A suit of German style plate armour, likely to have been manufactured in Southern Germany circa 1600.
The suit is a composite piece, consisting of original pieces from c.1600 in addition to Victorian reproduction pieces. It is likely that the upper half of the suit, consisting of helmet, torso and arm guards date from c.1600. Whilst the leg sections, buckles and straps were added in the Victorian period in order to make a complete suit of armour.
Throughout the later Medieval period, the use of armour became more and more widespread, and plate armour such as this suit were widely adopted. By the 15th and 16th century plate armoured infantry formed the nucleus of most armies.
Plate armour was largely manufactured in the regions of southern Germany and northern Italy. This particular suit was likely produced in southern Germany before eventually making its way to Lichfield.
The suit of armour is constructed of interlocking steel plates, held together by leather straps with brass buckles. The edging of each piece of plate has been decorated with a hatched engraving, this is believed to have been done during the Victorian period.
The suit lacks a helmet and set of gauntlets but is otherwise complete. It consists of:
A Gorget, protecting the neck;
A Cuirass with breastplate and backplate (protecting the torso) a lance rest in the shape of a hook is attached to the right side of the breastplate. Left and right articulated Tassets to protect the hips and upper thighs are attached to the underside of the cuirass.
Each arm is made up of four pieces of armour: A Pouldron (shoulder guard), articulated Rerebrace (upper arm guard), Couter (elbow guard) and Vambrace (lower arm guard).
Each leg is made up of four pieces of armour: A cuisse (upper leg guard), articulated Poleyn (knee guard), Greave (lower leg and calf guard) and articulated Sabatons (foot guards).
Waist from Suit of Field Armour - German Origin - Circa 1600
Location: Lichfield District Council
Accession number: Armour No. 2
A suit of German style plate armour, likely to have been manufactured in Southern Germany circa 1600.
The suit is a composite piece, consisting of original pieces from c.1600 in addition to Victorian reproduction pieces. It is likely that the upper half of the suit, consisting of helmet, torso and arm guards date from c.1600. Whilst the leg sections, buckles and straps were added in the Victorian period in order to make a complete suit of armour.
Throughout the later Medieval period, the use of armour became more and more widespread, and plate armour such as this suit were widely adopted. By the 15th and 16th century plate armoured infantry formed the nucleus of most armies.
Plate armour was largely manufactured in the regions of southern Germany and northern Italy. This particular suit was likely produced in southern Germany before eventually making its way to Lichfield.
The suit of armour is constructed of interlocking steel plates, held together by leather straps with brass buckles. The edging of each piece of plate has been decorated with a hatched engraving, this is believed to have been done during the Victorian period.
The suit lacks a helmet and set of gauntlets but is otherwise complete. It consists of:
A Gorget, protecting the neck;
A Cuirass with breastplate and backplate (protecting the torso) a lance rest in the shape of a hook is attached to the right side of the breastplate. Left and right articulated Tassets to protect the hips and upper thighs are attached to the underside of the cuirass.
Each arm is made up of four pieces of armour: A Pouldron (shoulder guard), articulated Rerebrace (upper arm guard), Couter (elbow guard) and Vambrace (lower arm guard).
Each leg is made up of four pieces of armour: A cuisse (upper leg guard), articulated Poleyn (knee guard), Greave (lower leg and calf guard) and articulated Sabatons (foot guards).