The Armour Archive

Hi,

I am hoping someone can help me in my search. I am looking for depictions of period mantle & torces. I do not mean the heraldic displays but the actual fabric items worn on the helms. I'm also trying to find out what materials the m&t would have been made out of. If anyone has any information I would greatly appreciate it!!


Jibril

Linen and wool would be a safe bet, I don't think I've seen a picture of a surviving example, which doesn't mean there aren't any, but they would be excedingly rare.

I can't think of any extant examples either, or of a description from period detailing the material used. Any rich material would be a reasonable conjecture: well fulled wool, silk, fine leather... Most mantlings seem to be dagged or scalloped along thier edge and fulled wool and leather lend themselves to very well to that treatment.

Don't forget silk and satin. Aristocrats wore these.

Absent any relict textiles, artwork hailing from your decade and location of interest should give you the shape to make.