The Armour Archive

I know that poleyns were commonly worn with gamboised(sp?) cuisses but can anyone tell me if there is evidence of archer's knees being mounted onto padded cuisses instead of plate?

If so, how would they have been mounted? I'm assuming they were sewn in, or pointed perhaps?


Many thanks

I can't think of an example.....
In fact, I don't think I've ever seen an extant or illuminated example of archer's knees. The closest I can think of is the gothic legs which have a roughly archer-knee shaped plate which attaches to the cuisse and to the greave.
In any case, for me the proof I'd be looking for is that archer's knees actually existed. If not, it doesn't really matter what you attach them to.

I have seen them in 15th cent art. I will have to dig around for the documentation.

I agree with White. Take some time looking at 15th cent. illuminations such as Froissart. You will see them. However, I have never seen an illustration of archers knees that was detailed enough that you could tell how they were attached to the hose and if the hose were reinforced/padded or just regular hose.

Ok, I've been looking through 14th cent. illustrations, looks like I will have to extend my search into the 15th cent.

Thanks for the help.

Try here.

http://gallery.the-exiles.org/view_phot ... aaj&full=1

Cameron

Even better. I think this answers your question. By this image, the knees are suspended by a central band across the back of the knee with no attachment at the top or the bottom since the lames are flaring out away from the body.

http://gallery.the-exiles.org/albums/armour/aao.jpg

Cameron

Deblakstan;

While I agree all you can see is a central band I am not convinced just a strap across the back will hold the knee in place properly. I believe there must also be either spots where the knee is sewn on or pointed on. I also am not convinced that hose without reinforecment are strong enough to hold such knees in place. I would be interested in seeing a reconstruction that worked both functionally and had a period appearance.

I won't disagree with the fact that they might be likely to fall down. What I was looking at was the fact the the bottom lame, in particular, and the top lame (on the left leg) seem to be away from the leg. While it could just be an artist's interpretation it seems rather strange to me that an artist would intentionally show the lame falling away from the body unless he had seen it before. I'll look for more pictures though since one doesn't really make a case for anything.

Cameron

Interesting, thanks all for your input.