The Armour Archive

To be specific i'm looking for information about late 15th century spanish and moorish armour. I'm looking to eventually make myself a full plate mail, but for the moment, i only need a basic set of protection for SCA fighting to start off with. What i have in mind is a coat of metal plates interlaced and connected by chainmail like the moorish armour. Is there anyone out there experienced with this moorish armour or knows any websites with reference to it? I've already got a rough idea of how to make it, but if anyone knows any tips for making actual period armor, it would be nice to have the advice. Once i've been able to get a better handle on the smithing and fabrication of armour, i'll work on my full spanish plate. I will come back and check this forum for responses, although it would be rather kind if anyone with information could directly email it to me at vagabundosecreto@hotmail.com. Many thanks for the consideration guys.

Lorenço de Çarate y Calatrava

deleted

Yeah, it's a piece of armour with moorish influences, and thanks for noticing. I guess i'm just looking for the moorish body armour. I am looking around on the web on my own, but I have to find a few more examples of their chain/plate chest protection before i can work with my local armourer to build it with.

Are you referring to the armours that frequently have a fairly complete plate coverage, connected by strips of mail? The best period variety of these is Turkish, 15th thru 17th centuries, not Moorish. Stone , "Glossary of Construction, Decoration, and Use of Arms and Armor" pictures 1/2 a dozen of these harnesses; and Osprey's "Armies of the Ottoman Turks" also shows a couple of nice suits.
For museums, the Met has some nice stuff, as well as the Stibbert in Florence.

If you were referring to Moro harness, Stone has a couple of pictures.
Moro harness is very interesting as the best examples are deriviative of both Spainish and Islamic traditions, but the Philipines are really pushing it for an SCA context.

Mughal India is another region where this style is popular, and it's worn into the 19th century there.


alail/scott

You pretty much hit the spot with all that info. Is there any type of an online page or site where i could find visual documentation on that though?