Gambeson 1450-1550:pull over or button up....

[RoaK]

A quick question: were gambesons mostly pull over garments or buttoned up affairs around 1450 to 1550?

Or were they both and it is just a matter of preference?

[James B.]

If you mean an arming garment they had arming doublets, likely they were laced shut.

If you mean cloth armors then you want a jack which most are depicted as lace ups, the three extent examples lace, but there are a few drawings with buttons:





Extent brigandines buckled shut.

[RoaK]

Ok thanks for the fast response, I take it most were laced or buttoned up.

I found a lady who is willing to give making a simple gambeson a try and I'm meeting her tonight to take measurements and discuss the garment. I wanted to know if we could make a pull over one like a tunic....

What time period were those anyways?

[James B.]

1470 and 1483; if you notice that style does not close in the center I suspect they overlap to prevent a weak spot. I am helping Will Knight make one like this for Lord Grey's hope to have it reay next month.