A parade armor? If so, why mount the scales to a steel breastplate? Or is this merely one more example of the Italians clinging to their Roman heritage?
Breastplate from a cuirass, Italy, late 16th century, Steel, ivory, forged, carved
This steel breastplate is covered with round bone platelets and (lion) masks. The soldier in the central portrait wears a helmet with a crest in the form of a mythical creature, the hydra. The cuirass imitates scale armour, which was used from antiquity.
ferrum ferro acuitur et homo exacuit faciem amici sui
A majority of Italian parade armor that I've seen was made to high standards of quality not only aesthetically, but also functionally. Don't see any reason why mounting the scales to steel is unreasonable. It'd probably be easier to find/make a steel one in that day in age than try to mimic the shape in another material, anyway.
Signo wrote:What is the purpose of using a low quality breastplate when your wealth can easily buy you a small nation?
How can you call it "low quality" based on photos? Perhaps it's made from some of the finest steel available at the time... And who made it? It could have been forged by the likes of Negroli himself! Even the masters dabbled in basic armoring out of necessity. This particular example is a shapely piece, and incorporates a lovely rolled top edge. However and whoever, if the point is to cover it up completely and wear it on parade, why worry about what's underneath?
NO, this is not what I meant, reading the thread a bit in a hurry I perceived the idea that someone found the breastplate not as fine as the decoration, I probably misworded my post.
What I meant is that even if it was "parade armour" there was no reason to not have it made of the best craftmanship and material of their time.
Wow, that's stunning. 1st example like that I've ever seen. Any others like that covered with bone or ivory? Or is it unique? Well, I know its one of a kind, but anything else from that period that's similar?
People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf.
