February 24th & 25th 2012 General (02)
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/24/2012
Circa 1580. Laminated body armor, with overlapping horizontal plates. This is the exact piece pictured in Stone's Glossary, page 10, figure 16. At one time, this piece was a part of a collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The large top breast plate is beautifully embossed with two facing dolphins, heads down, tails up, holding a floral design aloft with their noses. Double incised lines border the top plate as well as the lower plates. A lovely scallop design runs along the top of each plate. A highly pronounced rope border runs along the neck and arms. Steel is cracked all the way through the rope border on the right arm. Strip of leather with 12 rivets on inner surface is a much later restoration and was needed to hold the six lower plates together. Outer surface has medium to heavy pitting overall. The inner surface has a nice brown patina. Overall, still a very handsome and rare piece of armor.
Condition: (Very Good - Excellent).
Item Dimensions: 21" T.