I really appreciate all the comments and speculations.
Some observations that are messing me up:
Notice that the cuisses both seem to have the "zip strip" at what slightly different places. The Pembridge one has it apparently dead center on the inside of the thigh. Note now the location of the cops, and the placement of the rivets on the cops compared to the line of the zip strip. They're in line. An examination of the effigy of the Black Prince -- a contemporary -- only shows a line there.
[img]http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2318/1599665269_b8fcf3e716_b.jpg[/img]
The zip strip on the Lichtervelde cuisse seems a bit forward of the midline of the thigh -- but this may be an artifact of the fact that this is a relief rather than a full-round sculpture, and it was more important for the detail to show than its exact location. At any rate, the cop here extends BEHIND the zip strip -- but shows no rivets. If this is actually the correct arrangement, How would this be put on, then, given that the cop is larger and extends so far behind the zip strip?
COULD these be leather?
I can't imagine someone like Pembridge with leather legs -- not in 1375. And given that both Pembridge and Lichtervelde both have "fully formed" sets of cuisses (that is, cops with a demi-greave) I can't imagine them being leather.
Note that the outside just shows a straight line -- no hinges or buckles. Odd that such details would be left out, while the line of stitching is so meticulously detailed on an INSIDE part of the effigy.
This picture of the Pembridge effigy also shows the line of stitching, but in addition shows the detail of buckles on the INSIDE of the greaves.
(Side point: I notice that there is a line of rivets in that same place on a set of the Churburg legs, running up the inside of the cuisse -- why are these there? What were they for?)
So is it possible that there is some sort of leather panel they are stitched to? WHY? And how would these then be worn and strapped? There is no indication on Pembridge's effigy that the legs are anything but normal metal armour.
One of the things that I tend to think of as hallmarks of cuirbuilli armour in effigies is "frou frou" -- when I see armour panels that are all ornamented, it smacks to me of tooled leather. Likewise, a proliferation of "buttons" indicating rivets that may be holding splints to the undersides, or just studding the leather.
The kind of things I see as cuir bouilli are like the
legsof Jan II van Polanen (1394), the
knees on the effigy of Sir John de Goshall (1310), the
arms and the
legs of Sir Philip de la Beche (1325), the obviously splinted
legs of Roger de Kerdiston (1337), the
studded cuisses of Roger Grey (1340), the
knees of John de Lyons (1350), etc.
This is why I tend to think Pembridge's legs (at least) are not leather, but metal.
The greaves are more annoyingly mysterious. I am assuming that the greaves on the Schönecken effigy are splinted leather. The rows of buttons can only be studs or rivets holding splints.
I don't even see a seam on the outside of the Drakenborch greaves -- so could the be spring-loaded? Or -- and I know some folks have suggested leather -- one piece constructs fastening up the inside? I really don't want to see these as leather, but... damn.
Side bonus: [url=http://flickr.com/photos/roelipilami/1623695259/sizes/l/in/set-72157602468647900/
]admire the funky layering on the legs on the effigy of Jan I van Wassenaar en Polanen (c. 1375).[/url]
Effingham
no Pembridge, the monument; http://flickr.com/photos/roelipilami/16 ... 468647900/ from Effingham's post.
Just shows how much there is to learn out there.
