The Armour Archive

Hello Guys,

A lot of important pieces from Czech collections in one exhibition you can see at Hradec Kralove, CR. There is also catalogue available in Czech language + English or German translation of texts on free papers.

more info at: http://www.thecoldbeauty.com/vystava/?lang=en

enjoy

Jiri

looks good. It should prove a very interesting addition to the few books on armour that currently exist. Thank for the heads up.

RPM

Look's great-- I'm going to order a copy!

I'll order one too. Thanks Jiri! ...Otto

You are welcome guys, I have of course my own copy:-) price was CZK 450 (some 21 USD)+ shipping.

Jiri

I need one! But i really would like to go there and see the exibition

Jiri,

Is finding accomidations hard in the area of the museum? I also speak English, Spanish and some french but not sure if that would help. Are they a good number of people about who would understand English that one would not end up lost for ever? Looks like a very interesting exibit, I have been meaning to visit some places on the continent while I live here in England so it looks like an interesting one to place on that list. Any guidance would be excellent.

RPM

In Czech republic you can talk the universal language of love
Seriously.. not a lot of people talk english there, but I've never had problems and i go there quite often. (It worth to go there, if you can, go!)

Randall,

I think accomodation is no problem, if you have some special question drop me PM or e-mail I will help as much as I can. I think there is enough people speaking English (at least good enough to tell you where the museum is:-) the curator of exhibition Mr. Hrbaty speaks English too.

Jiri

Thanks Jiri. I will look into travel plans. I have a few freinds from that neck of the world but I think they all live abroad currently.

I contacted them for a copy! I am excited, loks good.

RPM

I didn't see an order page for the catalog. Do you just have to email them and inquire?

Thanks!

That is what I did. There was a 'click here to ask about the catalog' and it sends you to an e-mail thing. I will see what I get back.

It does look worthwhile. We will see.

Wade

I emailed for information and this is what I got back:

Dear Sir,
Thank you for your interest in our catalogue tittled "The Cold Beauty of the
Plate Armour".
The catalogue costs 20 euro (27 USD) and a postage is about 11 euro (15
USD). We can send it to your adress. We can send you an invoice to your
e-mail adresss and against payment we send the catalogue.
Best regards
Ilona Razimova, Museum in Hradec Kralove

I am putting together an order for several of us in the bay area. So far, I am up to 7. If anyone else in the bay area wants in on this, contact me asap. I will likely place the order tomorrow or the next day.

- Scott

I just ordered and paid via paypal. Looks like a good way to do it.

cheers!

RPM

Scott, I'm in- let me know how much I should pay you and when.

Klaus

Klaus,

OK. I'm up to 8 now. I'll know the total once I place the order. You can get the the cash anytime. Or, maybe you can pay me with brig nails.

I'm hoping the books will be in before White Shield.

- Scott

Kewl. Keep me posted.

Mine was sent to me yesterday, I´ll let you know what I think of it when it arrives.

Can´t wait!

kaos,

do let us know please.

I am interested to see what interesting pieces are there.

RPM

Hi there brothers in fire and steel!

the picture content of the book is...

sorry for the long posting:-) but I couldn´t help myself...

Jiri

PLATE ARMOURS
(page 14-31)

1. Fluted equestrian armour for man and horse, about 1515, Germany (Landshut, Mathes Deutsch)
(The State Castle of Opočno, Inv. No. 9870. 9871)
Mark: The armour is marked in corners under the protective edge of the breastplate. On the left side, there is a kettle hat, the guild mark of Landshut, on the right side a lime leaf, the master's mark used by Mathes Deutsch (1475-1498)
Weight: Armour for man - 26,644 kg

2. Fluted equestrian armour for man and horse, about 1520, Germany (Nuremberg)
(The State Castle of Hluboká nad Vltavou, Inv. No. HL 8613, HL 8543, HL 8542)
Mark: There is the Nuremberg guild mark on spaulder and gorget, formed by the incorrectly mirrored coat of arm of the city. The same mark (mirrored) can be seen on the fluted helmet deposited in the Münchner Stadtmuseum in Munich (Inv. No. Z 14).
Weight: Armour for man - 23,864 kg

3. Equestrian armour for man and horse, about 1540, Germany
(The State Castle of Žleby, Inv. No. ZL 1340 a-m)
Mark: The armour bears no mark.
Weight: Armour for man - 20,366 kg

4. Equestrian armour for man and horse, about 1540, Germany (Nuremberg)
(The State Castle of Slatiňany, Inv. No. 1a, 1b)
Mark: The peytral of the horse armour is stamped with the Nuremberg guild mark.
Weight: Armour for man - 18,462 kg

5. Equestrian armour of the Late Gothic, about 1480, Germany
(The State Castle of Lednice, Inv. No. 174/323)
Mark: The left cheek-piece is stamped with the lime blossom, the master's mark used by an unknown armourer. There is another master’s mark on the lower edge of the back fauld - a heraldic symbol of a jumping lion.
Weight: 23,257 kg

6. Fluted equestrian armour, 1515-1520, Germany (Nuremberg)
(The State Castle of Hluboká nad Vltavou, Inv. No. HL 8611)
Mark: The protective edge of the breastplate bears two marks: On the right side, there is the Nuremberg guild mark, and on the left side, the master’s mark of an unknown armourer - a sallet with the initials VH on its peak.
Weight: 18,684 kg

7. Equestrian armour, about 1530, Germany
(The Museum of the Kroměříž region - the Chropyně Castle, Inv. No. 636/78)
Mark: The armour bears no marks.
Weight: 29,322 kg

8. Equestrian armour for tournaments, about 1545, Italy (Brescia)
(The State Castle of KonopiÅ¡tě, Inv. No. K 10442 a-l)
Mark: The armour bears no mark.
Weight: 25,052 kg

9. Equestrian armour, about 1560, Italy
(The Military Historical Institute in Prague, Inv. No. I 3574)
Mark: The lower part of the lance rest bears two marks with the initials SP.
Weight: 23,308 kg

10. Equestrian armour fot tilting, 1570-1580, Germany (Augsburk?)
(The Museum of the Kroměříž Region - the Chropyně Castle, Inv. No. 433/78)
Mark: The armour bears no armourer‘s mark.
Weight: 30,716 kg
11. Equestrian armour for tournaments, in the style of the period around 1580 (19th
century?), Germany?
(The State Castle of Å vihov, Inv. No. SV 1290)
Mark: The armour bears no mark.
Weight: 24,162 kg

12. Equestrian armour for tournaments, in the style of the period around 1580 (19th
century?), Germany?
(The State Castle of Opočno, Inv. No. 8889, 8890, 8891)
Mark: The armour bears no armourer‘s mark.
Weight: 11,250 kg

13. Half-armour for the mounted cuirassier, about 1610, France (?)
(The State Castle of Opočno, Inv. No. 9868)
Mark: The armour bears no mark.
Weight: 22,394 kg

14. Half-armour for the mounted cuirassier, 1610-1620, France (?)
(The State Castle of Opočno, Inv. No. 9867)
Mark: The armour bears no mark.
Weight: 14,970 kg

15. Kettle hat, about 1440, Germany
(The State Castle of Frýdlant, Inv. No. 1738, F 1121)
Mark: The helmet bears no mark.
Weight: 1,414 kg

16. Sallet, about 1460, Germany
(The Museum of National History in Slaný, Inv. No. 1961)
Mark: The helmet bears no mark.
Weight: 3,692 kg

17. Sallet, 1470-1480, Germany
(The Museum of the Broumov Region, Inv. No. 6963)
Mark: The point of the protective tail bears two indistinct marks.
Weight: 2,292 kg

18. Barbute, about 1480, Italy (Milan)
(The State Castle of KonopiÅ¡tě, Inv. No. K 10420)
Mark: The back right side of the skull bears an indistinct mark, it can be, however, a forging defect, as well.
Weight: 1,966 kg

19. Sallet, 1470-1480, Germany
(The State Castle of Telč, Inv. No. 3648/2018)
Mark: The helmet bears no mark.
Weight: 2,592 kg

20. Sallet, 1480-1490, Germany
(The National Museum, Prague, Inv. No. H2-673)
Mark: The helmet bears no mark.
Weight: 2,840 kg

21. Sallet, 1470-1480, Germany (Italy)
(The Museum of South Moravia in Znojmo, Inv. No. Z 468)
Mark: The helmet bears no mark.
Weight: 3,354 kg

22. Sallet, about 1480, Germany
(The Military Historical Institute in Prague, Inv. No. I 2699)
Mark: The helmet bears no mark.
Weight: 2,180 kg

23. Sallet, about 1485, Germany
(The State Castle of Žleby, Inv. No. ZL 6691)
Mark: The helmet bears no mark.
Weight: 2,318 kg

24. Kettle hat, about 1490, (Italy, Spain?)
(The Military Historical Institute in Prague, Inv. No. I 2704)
Mark: The helmet bears no mark.
Weight: 1,578 kg

25. Lamed bevor, about 1490, (Spain?)
(The Military Historical Institute in Prague, Inv. No. I 2698)
Mark: The gorget bears no mark.
Weight: 0,638

26. Armet, 1490-1500, Italy (Milan)
(The State Castle of Opočno, Inv. No. 9354)
Mark: The back side of the skull os stamped with the mark of the armoury of Gabriel and Francesco Merate, who worked in Milan originally, and later they moved to Arbois, France.
Weight: 5,072 kg

27. Tournament helmet for jousting (Stechen), about 1500, Germany
(The National Museum, Prague, Inv. No. H2-633)
Mark: The helmet bears no mark.
Weight: 9,166 kg

28. Helmet of an equestrian armour, about 1515, Germany
(The Museum of South Moravia in Znojmo, Inv. No. ZB 645)
Mark: The helmet bears no mark..
Weight: 2,024 kg

29. Fluted helmet of an equestrian armour, about 1515, Germany
(The State Castle of Rožmberk nad Vltavou, Inv. No. RO 4144)
Mark: The helmet bears no mark.
Weight: 2,834 kg

30. Fluted helmet of an equestrian armour, about 1520, Germany
(The State Castle of Opočno, Inv. No. 8862)
Mark: The back side of the skull and the bottom lame of its tail bear the mark of an unknown German armourer (initial “Pâ€

ace!

Jiri,

It should be very exciting...... I cannot wait for it to arrive. It looks very nice from the pictures and info online.

RPM

I am comming to Prague, in April... Can you tell me something about museums in Prague?? do u have some medieval shops?

Randall I am happy with my own:-) especially 15th century stuff is quite unique, the full armour on the cover has never been published before...

Dragon, there is a lot of museums in Prague (technical, national, botanic.....) but no A+A exposition at the moment. If you check the web site of the cataloge, there is a list of museums and galleries in CR having armour to show.

there is a number of shops is Prague selling A+A, but mostly poor quality for the "tourist prices" One of them is very close to the OldTown square

Jiri

That sounds like a great book!

I'll be ordering a couple of copies, let me know if you want to be in on the order, NL or S (Skåne, or you'll have to pay for shipping)

can i buy this catalogue somewhere in Prague??

Jiri is right, there is a KKart seller (now it has another name) behind the astronomical clock square, and another one is near the castle in the higher part of the city. Bestarmour.com has a workshop in Prague, but he don't have a stock to sell on the fly I think.
For sure there are some other, like:
http://www.arms-armor.cz/index.php
http://www.fabri-armorum.cz/ (here we buy weapons, and he is a very serious and professional man, he makes some armour too, but I don't like it so much).

As Jiri said, you must be very ciritical with such pieces, but we every year spend some thousands euros there, you just need to see which piece is a total crap and which one worth the money.

If you plan to go to Prague, I suggest you to make your orders and go there to collect your stuff, if you wanto to be sure to have something nice to bring home... otherwise I hope you don't go there AFTER we passed...

there are some good swords on www.arms-armor.cz, but i cant see price??

------------------------
http://www.fabri-armorum.cz/nabidka2005_2006.htm

sorry, but i dont understand this....

Pro zájemce o Å¡erm zejména z řad mladších a začínajících adeptů mám následující nabídku:



Během prosince 2006 a ledna 2007 výrazně zlevňuji 1 ruční a 1 1/2 ruční meče v základním provedení (KNECHT), a to:



1 ruční gotický meč "knecht"..........................2006 Kč

1 1/2 ruční gotický meč "knecht"...................2007 Kč



Tato nabídka platí při Vaší osobní návÅ¡těvě, každý z následujících úterků:

12.12. 19.12. 2.1. 9.1.

Předpokládám nákup max. 2 ks mečů na osobu - nabídka je omezená



Přijďte - prohlédnete si naÅ¡e výrobky - pohovoříme o VaÅ¡ich dotazech, problémech a přáních - a nakonec si odnesete meč za skvělou cenu !!!



Na VaÅ¡i návÅ¡těvu se těší



Ing. Jiří Kronďák

is this the price of his swords?

translation is more or less:-):

For beginners from the crowd of fencing adepts:

one handed sword "knecht" (rough style) 2006CZK
1 1/2 handed sword "knecht" 2007CZK

you can buy them every tuesday ......12.12. 19.12. 2.1. 9.1.

2 swords per person at maximum

......... come and see my products and discuss your needs

--------------------------------------------------------

Hope this helps. For me his swords are too heavy, but it depends on what you want them for
My own swords are from different producers from CR about 3-4 times more expensive

all the best

Jiri

all the best

Jiri

Something makes me feel that JIRI is the most common name in Czech republic... as is MARIO for Italy, John for USA.... or only armourers and swordmakers are allowed to have this name?? just joking, I would really like to learn a bit of Czech language other than Dobra den, dobra noc, ahoi, pozor and some little else...

how much euro is 2007czk??


it have returned me every mail i try to send him (on jiri.krondak@volny.cz)

do you know does he have any other e-mail??

roughly 71 euro is 2007 Kc
1 euro = 28.308 Kc

Signo wrote:roughly 71 euro is 2007 Kc
1 euro = 28.308 Kc

do you have some pics of his swordS?

Uhm nothing that you can't see on his online catalogue.
http://www.fabri-armorum.cz/medieval_swords.htm
The swords in general have not a high level finish on them
Hilt and pommels could be quite rough, hilts are hot forged and show it clearly.
They are cheap and sturdy, usually properly balanced, they don't dent so easily and don't dent deeply.
There are for sure producers that can outclass him on aesthetic, both Pavel Moc and Marek and other
http://www.armorymarek.com/
http://www.swords.cz/

Those are very good for combat too, but on another price level.

In the end, we like them, because we use and misuse them, he is a very professional business partner and he won't have problem substituting a weapon if shows some manufacture defect.
I bought a falchion and a 2 hands pricking from him recently, and I like them, I feel safe handling them.

A thing that you may like or not, is that the pommel is brazed welded on the tang in a way that allow eventual need to disassemble the blade (melting the brass with an oxytorch) but at the same time the weapon is a single piece, and in case the hilt will get some small play with use, you can fix it with 2 hammer stroke or a little tin wire between it and the handle.

Has anyone actually seen this book in person?

I really like the list of pictures.... Just curious what the book really looks like. How are the pictures in general? Big enough? Nice angles? Well done?

I should probably just order it, but I wouldn't mind a personal impression.

Thanks,

Wade