Breastplate

Item

Title: Breastplate
Creator: Unknown
Date: 1557
Description: Steel, of unusual weight, possibly of "proof". Breast elongated, with waistline dipped down towards fork. Medial ridge runs full length, peaking outwardly at about 2/3 of its length. Upper edge of breast nearly parallel, only slightly dipped near extremities. Flexible gussets secured with brass rivets (one modern) & are spring-loaded (cf. however to a similar set on the breastplate of Guidobaldo II delle Rovere, Duke of Urbino, made by Filippo Negroli about 1529. In the Bargello, Florence M772/778, plate 245 in Boccia/Coelho). Edges of gussets & upper edge of breast inwardly rolled, outwardly flared, & boldly cabled with chisel-marks. At mid-point of each is spaced, raised moulding. Right gusset inner edge has been cut away to accomodate bolts of lance-rest, now lacking. Holes are plugged.

Plain, sunken border around armpits & across top of breast, below legend. This reads "CHR[IST]VS MORTVVS EST P[RO]P[TER] PECCATA N[OST]RA/RESURREXIT P[RO]P[TER] IVSTIFICACIONEM N[OST]RI/A + D + E + M + 4 IPH4 + 1557 AE:67".

At base of medial ridge just below waist is "L" shaped bracket which serves to retain leather belt from backplate in position.

5 punched holes on interior of breastplate flange, one at the medial line, one pair each near the terminals, for the leathers of a fauld (lacking). In its place is a single, outwardly curved lame (restored or associated), pierced with two sets of holes for tassets (lacking).
Format: etched and blackened steel and brass. 46.4 × 40.6 × 23.5 cm (18 1/4 × 16 × 9 1/4 in.)
Weight: 13 lb. 4 oz.
Publisher: Worcester Art Museum
Contributor: Rieley Lawson
Identifier: Worcester Art Museum. 2014.737
Subject: steel; breastplate; armor;
Source: jpeg file. Worcester Art Museum. 11/05/2025
https://worcester.emuseum.com/objects/49152/breastplate?ctx=9dd4d97b015f16f630de3f824bfb8a4b84bfbbe3&idx=56

Item sets: Rieley collection

Media: DP14667.jpeg