Throughout the sixteenth century the style of armour called simply "black and white" was mostly used in a military context to distinguish officers from troopers. The common soldier getting mostly all black or all russet armour. The officers getting black and white armours of varying complexity to show degree of rank. The highest ranks and nobility getting the polished armour which was so much more expensive to maintain. This mid sixteenth century black and white armour in the Solothurn collection is a middle grade officers armour.
These simpler black and white armours
with a basic banded design were used by line officers in pike formations
by the Swiss in the sixteenth century. They are on display in the old
armoury in Solothurn.
On the other end of the spectrum this
armour made by Michel Witz the younger in 1550 is much more complicated
and listed in the armoury at Graz as an officer for a nobleman. It has
grotesque faces on the elbows and knees and very detailed vine and floral
design elements.
This mid sixteenth century German armour
also has grotesque knee and elbows as well as a detailed vine/floral design.
This insbruck armour in the Odescalchi
collection was made in 1550-1560. It represents another sub style yet.
A banded armour with flamboyant enhancements to the band pattern.
The vast majority of black and white
armours were simple designs based on bands. Almost all were infantry armours
though there were exceptions. While no examples remain several funeral
jousting armours were made in the black and white style early in the seventeenth
century. And armour made strictly for funerals in the seventeenth century
was mostly in the back and white style.
