The Armour Archive

I'm not sure what the best place for this is, so I'm posting this here as well as the Design and Construction Forum.

I'm developing a 1320s kit for SCA fighting and am trying to figure out some details in how to construct and fight in ailettes (heraldic displays on the shoulders). I've done a lot of research in manuscripts and funerary brasses http://effigiesandbrasses.com/monuments ... ew=gallery but still have some questions.

1 Construction
Heavy painted leather would seem to work well, but what were these made from in period?

2 Position
Many of the funerary brasses and effigies show ailettes on the front or back instead of the side of the shoulders. Is this artistic license?

3 Elevation
Most of the the effigies show the ailettes high up on the shoulder so that raising the arm would whack me in the head. For SCA use, what elevation would a reasonable compromise be?

i use leather or leather covered in linen
i hope you get more answers, cause i have all the same questions

here are some pics of mine
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid= ... 1112269331

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid= ... 1112269331

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid= ... 1112269331

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid= ... 1112269331

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid= ... 1112269331

Sir Zigmund! (I hope I spelled it right)
I was hoping you were in the archive. I've always been impressed by your kit and you're the only person I know who wears them.

trying to up the ante with helmet crests now too

That's in the works on my kit too

1. Inventory records for the Tournament at Windsor Park in 1278 indicate ailettes for the tournament were made from leather, parchment (sheepskin) and "carda"--some sort of fabric also used for surcoats. It should be noted that helmets for this tournament were made of leather, and swords of baleen, so this might not have been the material used in warfare. The 1313 inventory of Piers Gaveston notes ailettes garnished with pearls which was hardly the norm, but acceptable display for the king's gay lover. Leather or any other thin, rigid panels should work.

2. Mounting the ailettes by pointing through the mail seems proper. Most scenes of combat show these at the point of the shoulder, while most scenes at rest show them hanging at the back. I suspect having them lay behind the shoulder is an artistic interpretation to avoid having them seen edge-on, which would make them hard to see. On an 3-d effigy, carving them on the point of the shoulder would be very fragile. Some effigies show them on the front of the shoulder, emphasizing their heraldic role.

http://effigiesandbrasses.com/monuments ... /original/

3. Pointing the ailette to the point of the shoulder is half the issue. Making sure the pointing is slightly above the ailette's center of mass insures the ailette will stand up rather than laying flat on top of the shoulder. Here's my interpretation in a blast from the past (1988):

Excellent question. I have started a set for my 1320 Kit. Cut the basic shape for them out of 6/7oz leather that I had, and am wondering if I need to back them with something. I can harden them at this part, and I think they will work well.