Leather Articulated Arms/Legs

[Richard de Scolay]

The other day someone mentioned a set of plate arm or leg armor belonging to Charles VI (I believe) that was made of only three parts and articulated using leather rather than riveted with lames.

I'm looking for more information and/or documentation for this type of articulation, specifically locality and time period. I've passing comments suggesting leather articulation was a mostly German method. In that case what would be the chance that an english knight would have had armor of this sort?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks...

[Cet]

Hi Richard,
While I think that arm defences cosisting of leather or splinted leather upper and lower cannons are predominantly German, plate canons articulated on leathers can be shown in both England and France. the Chartres example illustrates the latter while effigies such as that of Sir Miles Stapelton and Sir John d'Abernon (Edge and Paddock pg75 and pg78) illustrate leather articulations on English harness. It is arguable, however, that the components on these harneses are not articulated at all but merely overlap, as those of the figures shown on the Pistoia alterpiece seem to. I've seen both interpretations be made to work.