FireStryker Living History Forum : Cloth Covered Breastplate

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Topic: Cloth Covered Breastplate

Barnett de la Barre
New Member
Member # 605

posted 05-07-2004 09:21 AM

When did they start using cloth covered breastplates (getting a Corrizina breastplate kit)? Anyone have an pics, or know where to look for picks, effigies, sculptures, ect. Trying down to tie down a frame so I can get my personna and kit together.

Ok, one more question. What type of cloth would be durable and period? Was thinking of using a velvet fabric, but not sure what weight and/or type (not a sewing/fabric orientated person). I got my buckles ordered and going to probablly use trimmed nails as rivets (no speedy rivets).

Just strating to do research into my armor and this seems like a place to look as I want to develop a more period personaa, hard kit and soft kit (for SCA play).

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Barnett de la Barre

formerly known as an Ekkill

Registered: May 2004 | IP: Logged

Peter Lyon
Member
Member # 232

posted 05-07-2004 06:00 PM

There's a good picture of a "late 14th century" breastplate covered with velvet, in "Arms and Armour of the Medieval Knight", page 76. The vague dating may not be helpful to you, but the earliest this is likely to be is 1370. Looks like remains of straps at shoulders and under the arms, so it may be a type meant to be worn without a backplate, by crossing the straps over the back.

Registered: Oct 2001 | IP: Logged

Erik Schmidt
Member
Member # 424

posted 05-08-2004 05:13 AM

Cloth covered breastplates seem to have come into use around 1370 in the Germanic areas. Don't take that date too seriously, I would have to take a good look at it to come up with a better date, but that's unlikely to be more than 5 years off. The earliest metal breastplate I know of is about 1377.

The one Peter mentions is covered in two layers of canvas and an outer layer of red velvet.

The corazzina is a slightly different form of armour, but very likely could have had a similar type of covering material. It seems to be an Italian style and the earliest example of it in art that I know of is the Pistoia silver altarpiece from 1376. It's common in the 1380's in Italy, seemingly more so with the soldiers than the knights.

Erik

Registered: Feb 2003 | IP: Logged

Martin
Member
Member # 603

posted 05-08-2004 10:28 AM

Hi there!
Careful though, the velvet used then isn´t cotton velvet you get now a days but, either wool- or silkvelvet, which has a bit of a differant look, and unfortunaly a very differant price!

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Verpa es, qui istuc leges. Non es fidenter scripto!

Registered: May 2004 | IP: Logged

Barnett de la Barre
New Member
Member # 605

posted 05-08-2004 10:54 AM

Thank you all for the helpful information, gives me directions to look into. Yes the silk velvet is much more exspensive and as I do SCA combat I worried about the gooey tape residue.

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Barnett de la Barre

formerly known as an Ekkill

Registered: May 2004 | IP: Logged

All times are ET (US)

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