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Author
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Topic: Bracers
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Gwen
Member
Member # 126
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posted 05-11-2001 08:55 PM
    
Don't be embarrassed. Bracers are one of those costume items that are so ubiquitous that most people who are not costume experts figure that "If so many people are wearing them, they MUST have some basis in historical fact!".Add these to the list of non-historical ubiquities: *Sleeveless, laced front "Italian" or "Irish" gowns worn over a smock and nothing else. *Cleavage *Wreaths of flowers in the hair *Tandy mocassins *Floofy shirt, belted at the waist and worn as a tunic (usually with leather bracers). *Anything made of cotton gauze *Belts that are so long that the tail drags the ground and/or must be looped up through the belt a second time. *Etc. ad nauseum As Tim pointed out in another thread, some things done initially in ignorance become dogma when perpetuated. Some items are characteristic of certain groups and perpetuated as historical fact. White belts for knights and only the Queen wearing purple are 2 common ones. Don't be embarrassed for asking. Asking means you're interested in knowing the truth, and that's never a bad thing.  Gwen
Registered: Feb 2001 | IP: Logged
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Yeoman
Member
Member # 164
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posted 05-13-2001 12:01 AM
Of course, a single bracer is documentable for archers (wink), but I know that's not what you are referring to. And, of course, archer's bracers typically form only a half-cannon, not a full cannon. When I see a person at Ren Faire wearing bracers, I just can't resist saying something like "Hey! That guy can shoot a bow both right AND left-handed!!!"I DO own a pair of "bracers" that have historical provenance (sp?)...they are a pair of "roping cuffs" passed down from my grandfather---part of his gear when he was a bona fide cowboy in his youth. These "roping cuffs" are virtually identical to what you see being used as costume elements at Ren Faire---but, of course, they are not covered with stamped Celtic interlace patterns. -------------------- Tim Finkas (aka Henri le Brassey)
The Company of Yeoman Archers
The Historical Forgerie
Registered: Apr 2001 | IP: Logged
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Yeoman
Member
Member # 164
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posted 05-13-2001 09:48 PM
I know of at least one extant example of an archer's arm brace, from the Mary Rose shipwreck. There are infrequent examples of archer's bracers to be found in late medieval art. Embleton & Bartlett reprint a few in "English Longbowman 1330-1515" by Osprey.-------------------- Tim Finkas (aka Henri le Brassey)
The Company of Yeoman Archers
The Historical Forgerie
Registered: Apr 2001 | IP: Logged
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Dave Key
Member
Member # 17
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posted 05-14-2001 12:23 PM
Actually Bracers are relatively common in illustrations of the c15th, and before/after.
There is the aforementioned round bracer in the Luttrel Psalter, and the Mary Rose Bracer. There is also a bracer in the collection of the British Museum dated to 1475 ... unfortunately they've managed to muddle the cataloguing with the one in the Osprey Book (which isn't the same as the one from the Mary Rose) (I must get back to them about this)!!
There is also an illustration of a Bracer in a Private Collection shown in the Museum of London's book on Dress Acessories (the buckle and other fittings being the reason for it's inclusion).As to illustrations: try looking at the Martyrdom of St Sebastian by Memling, http://www.oir.ucf.edu/wm/paint/auth/memling/resurrect.jpg I think a couple of the Burgundian Tapestries depicting the triumphs of Alexander have them ...I'll get the refs tonight if I get the chance. They're not a rare as you might think. What is interesting about these is that they are frqequently worn on the top of the forearm rather than the side ... this may be an artistic conventoin but similar differences to modern illustrations across multiple artists (and media) probably indicate a subtle difference in technique worthy of further investigation. So basically ... yep they did have bracers ... however as to designs ... Also I must confess I've not seen evidence for tabs ... shooting gloves yes, tabs no. Cheers
Dave
Registered: May 2000 | IP: Logged
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Ned
Member
Member # 170
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posted 05-14-2001 04:23 PM
The bracers look cool, but alas i fear you're all completely correct as to authenticity and where the practice started. I've seen the same examples of archery bracers as Tim has. Another secondary source (but a darn good one) is "Longbow a Social and Military History" by Robert Hardy. "Medieval Archer" is a good source as to the history and use of archery, but doesn't really cover equipment well. As to tabs no... but i know of one example of a three fingered glove. it's on a tapestry who's name escapes me, but as soon as I get home this evening I'll look it up and edit this post. All other period pics I've seen the archers either use a full glove...or no glove at all. How 'bout quivers???  We could start a whole new thread on THAT one!!
The three fingered glove is on a detail from "The History of Tarquin" now in the Zamora Cathedral treasury. It's on page 46 of Osprey's "Longbowman" book.[ 05-15-2001: Message edited by: Ned ] -------------------- Quid Corone
Registered: Apr 2001 | IP: Logged
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Dave Key
Member
Member # 17
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posted 05-15-2001 05:35 AM
 Hang on a minute .... have I missed something here? ... there is plenty of primary fifteenth century evidence for Bracers being worn in combat by Archers.Quite possibly the best illustrations of English archers of the Wars of the Roses period comes from the Beauchamp Chronicles (dated to the 1480s). In several of the pictures archers are shown in detail in the foreground ... a very cursory glance at these last night resulted in half a dozen illustrations of bracers. Now if you are differentiating between the oval-rectanglar shaped bracers which cover just under half the circumference of your wrist and are attahed with a single buckled strap (as per St Sebastian or Beauchamp etc) .... and the tubular all encasing leather wrist band (a la Tony Curtis) ... then yes I'd agree that I can't think of any of the latter ... but as to bracers being inauthentic that's crazy. It's a bit like saying they never wore helmets because there isn't a 1941 US Army issue helmet in any of the illustrations! So if you're talking wrist bands ... fine.
If bracers nope. Bracers are definitely period to the c14th and c15th. Remember a Bracer is specifically an archery thing ... it has nothing to do with combat protection and should not be seen as such. If you don't mean a bracer please don't call it one it's confusing me!!!!
As to the fingered glove ... yep seen the tapestry, also Sir John Howard's accounts list a Shooting glove. In fact I suspect that gloves (but not shhoting gloves per se) were more common than has been thought ... but that's a different topic.
Cheers
Dave
Registered: May 2000 | IP: Logged
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