This replication of a mid sixteenth century
field armour was made for a customer who carried a picture of a favorite
armour around for ten years before finally settling on Blankenshield to
make a replication to fit him.
This picture was the basis of this project.
A composed armour with several modern components. One of the things we
do when we study these sort of armours is to exaggerate the metals qualities
in photoshop. Unrelated components become readily apparent. In this case
the helmet, cuirasse, tassets and left arm are original. The associated
old cuisses are similar but not matched to each other and the associated
old gauntlets are also similar but do not match each other. The entire
right arm, gorget and lower legs from the knees down are modern and probably
the work of Tachaux. As is common with these highly restored composed
armours the whole has been etched with bands of matched motif. Also probably
by the tachaux workshop in the early twentieth century. We must remember
that this stuff was once military equipment. Frequently assembled from
masses of similar pieces collected after major battles and long campaigns.
In many cases the soldier was given armour that had been stored in a community
owned arsenal with no care to keeping matched components together. Huge
piles of rusting random armour pieces were gathered up in the early twentieth
century. These components were polished up and mounted into very saleable
mounted armours. This is a nice example of this practice. And a very workable
armour for practical use.
These pauldrens were new to our library
of articulations and had to be designed from scratch. They were similar
to a set of Henry VIII's armour that had the same overlap at a different
angle so we used the Henry pauldrens as a basis to work from. It took
a couple tries to get right but the addition of new articulations is always
welcome at Blankenshield.
The gauntlets are also new to the Blankenshield
library. Considerably more complicated than the simple clamshell gauntlets
sold with our stock armours these are extremely flexible with sliding
rivets between all lames.
While this armour is primarily used for
display it was made to wear and fit to a modern person over six feet tall
and robust build rather than the short thin person the original fit.
While not an exact replication it is
pleasingly like the original and filled with details from the original
such as double pin latches and recessed border detailing.
The elbows on the original were distinctive
in the recessed border detailing that proved rather daunting. As it turned
out under close examination the modern right arm on the original did not
have that recessed border detailing. So we can confidently state that
we were able to replicate details from the antique that were not successfully
replicated by those who restored the piece into a display armour. Whenever
we came across differences between the restored and original components
we worked from the old pieces.
The rods extending above the top of the
pauldrens are called fetterzapfen. Similar to the post in the center of
an old time record player that you snapped the record onto. Tiny spring
loaded wedges extend from the inside of the rod through cut slots and
the arm armour is simply slid up the arm and snapped into place. These
units are hand made at Blankenshield using drills and files. Extremely
difficult work. Historically several guilds were involved in the making
of an armour in sixteenth century England. The locksmiths who made the
hinges and latches frequently got more than the armour smiths that made
the armour in the first place.
The detailing on this visor has proved
quite popular as an upgrade.
Difficult to see, the reason I label
this a near replication is the seam visible just under the right hand.
This division of the breastplate allows much more freedom of movement.
While it does differ from the original both I and the client thought it
was important from a comfort point of view.
As nice as this armour looks on a stand
its primary purpose is to be worn.
And fought in!
Kneeling, crawling, and climbing are
all important functions for a battle ready armour.
The back of this armour was totally unknown
so we decided to go with the standard Blankenshield safety back plate
and a pauldren articulation based on one of Henry VIII's armours.
Even sitting comfortably in many armours
is not possible.
This customer is extremely satisfied
with his custom armour from Blankenshield.
While he is not actually touching his
toes he could.
