A FINELY CONSTRUCTED LIFE SIZED FLUTED FULL ARMOUR FOR MAN AND HORSE IN THE SO-CALLED MAXIMILIAN

A FINELY CONSTRUCTED LIFE SIZED FLUTED FULL ARMOUR FOR MAN AND HORSE IN THE SO-CALLED MAXIMILIAN FASHION OF CIRCA 1515-1530, 19TH CENTURY, comprising close helmet formed of a one-piece skull rising to a low roped comb, fitted with a neck-guard of one lame, bellows visor and bevor, the latter fitted at the left side with a spring-catch to engage the visor and secured to the skull at the right by a further spring catch, collar of four lames front and rear, globose breastplate fitted at the right of the chest with a folding lance-rest, gussets at the arm-openings, waist-lame, fauld of three lames, and tassets each of four lames, matching backplate formed of a main plate flanged outwards at the base to receive a culet of four lames, large asymmetrical pauldrons fitted with haute-pieces, vambraces formed of tubular upper and lower cannons, bracelet couters, mitten gauntlets each formed with a straight-ended cuff, and with hinged scaled thumb-defence, cuisses each formed of a gutter-shaped main plate, boldly roped at the upper edge and fitted at its lower with a winged poleyn of four lames, a pair of tubular full-length greaves cut with an arch at the front to accommodate a sabaton of nine lames, saddle faced with three plates front and rear, the former rising to a pronounced pommel, shaffron formed of two main plates, the lower formed with a boldly roped medial ridge and flaring out over the nose, fitted with a robust spike on a shield-shaped escutcheon, large cheek-defences, ear defences, and eye covers pierced with a trellis pattern, crinet of eleven articulated lames the last six extending around the neck to six further articulated lames above a peytral of three large fixed plates, the latter embossed with a domed moulding on each side, crupper of eleven fixed plates fitted with an embossed tail guard, decorated throughout with fluted patterns accompanied by incised lines, the principle edges with boldly roped inward turns accompanied by recessed borders (small areas of very minor pitting, some minor disarticulations): mounted on a fabric-covered mannequin on a finely carved wooden horse caparisoned in rich green fabric with gold brocade and tassels (areas of wear, losses), on a black painted wooden plinth