Brigandine-construction Pauldron/Spaudler

Konstantin the Red · Post by **Konstantin the Red** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 1:51 am

Well, it's either a small pauldron or a large spaudler; for size it's midway between the two. This is something I haven't met with before, and I can hardly wait to tell about it!

I was paging through a library's reference section's copy of Maurice Leloir's Dictionnaire du Costume, Librarie GrÃ¼nd 1951, and on page 142 I found an illustration, perhaps drawn from 15th-c. artwork -- source isn't given -- of a brigandine-construction spaud that seems very plausible. It is in the entry on "EpauliÃ¨re."

It is constructed of nine long lames running continuously from front to back. The topmost or medial lame is significantly broader than any of the others. The outline of the piece does not indicate anything in particular about the overlaps of the lames, but the array of rivets for the lames indicate typical up-and-inward overlap. Each lame has two staggered rows of rivets, one at the lower edge and the second row no more than 2cm above the first and parallel to it and the edge of its lame. The topmost lame's two parallel rivet rows are farther apart than the other eight lames'. The overall setup is quite like a highly articulated pauldron of the late sixteenth, though there is no main plate formed over the point of the shoulder in the usual steel pauldron manner.

Attachment of the brig-spaud to the brigandine is by means of three points, threaded through the spaud about at the lower margin of the broad topmost lame, located on centerline, rear, and forward. The forward and presumably the rear points (rear point not visible, though there is another view of what may be similar spauds from the rear) are set some centimeters in from the spaud's edge. The points, tied in bow knots, seem loosely secured, with the spaud floating very freely about the wearer's shoulder. Attachment for the lower portion of the spaud was not evident.

Subtleties of the shape are evident in the depiction. The lames appear to be slightly dished for a very smooth lie. The lames curve to form fairly closely about the arm, but then flatten out a bit along the forward margin to give freedom to arm motion. The other-similar-spauds rear-view suggests the rear margin is not so treated.

The brigandine the reference illo shows is less detailed, drawn as a simple array of horizontal lames, the lames meeting along center front in a laced-up closure. The brig has a high standing collar, v-relieved at the windpipe. The skirts are outlined, but without detail.

Also in this entry is a complete brig arm, with covered fanned couters of late-fifteenth general form and an array of lames above and below, likewise brig-style covered. I've seen pictures of the brigandine this arm is associated with. The "Brigandine" entry illustrates a brig -- no pauldrons -- with brigandine tassets included, detachable with straps and buckles, two per side if memory serves. This brig has rather romanesque looking tombstone-tabs containing one small scale per tab around the armholes as defenses of the shoulder joint.

lorenzo2 · Post by **lorenzo2** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 9:56 am

There are a number of covered spaulders shown in 15th cent art work that may be brigandine work. I don't believe any actual spaulders have survived. Perhaps the best is a piece by Fouquet which I think depicts the biblical magi? Anyway, the catalogue of the Medici armours from 1492? mentions pauldrons covered in green sack cloth. The point is that it would be hard to tell from art alone if one is looking at a normal shoulder defense with a decorative cover, or true brigandine work.

Konstantin the Red · Post by **Konstantin the Red** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 1:14 pm

In some examples I'm sure that would be true, Lorenzo. What persuades me this one would be a brig-constructed spaud is its association with a brigandine body defense and the arrangement of the rivets in pairs of close-spaced rows -- too exactly what a brigandine of the later variety used. Even the use of points to attach the spaud suggests this is not a single metal plate -- that would only need an attachment at the top of the shoulder and not the three-points front/center/rear that is shown.

chef de chambre · Post by **chef de chambre** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 2:35 pm

Many brigandine work sleeves in art are actual sleeves, and not spaulders. Some "spauldiers" are the size of pauldrons. Were you still around here, I could show you some material I do not have permission to post on the net.

lorenzo2 · Post by **lorenzo2** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 2:36 pm

It sounds interesting. Is there any way you could post a pic? I am not familiar with that book. Edit, as I posted Chef was also replying. My reference to the pic is for the library book, not Chef's resources.

Konstantin the Red · Post by **Konstantin the Red** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 9:43 pm

Well, I did a reference drawing from the book's picture for myself. I could work up a drawing for the Archive, I think. Probably take a bit of time.

chef de chambre · Post by **chef de chambre** » Sat Apr 19, 2008 8:08 am

It would be intreresting to see. It would be even more interesting to know exactly what they based the drawing on. While they do not footnote the drawing, perhaps they might make a reference within the main text.