Pike's Half Armor
Author: Unknown
Place of origin: Germany
Dating: Second half of the 16th century
Material: Iron, leather
Technique: Forging, blackening, riveting
Type: Protective armor
Dimensions: Height 115 cm, Width 31 cm
Description:
Pikeman Half Armor, Germany, second half of the 16th century
The armor is blackened, consisting of a sturmhaube helmet with a crest, a breastplate with pauldrons, a breastplate with fauld and lame cuisse, and a backplate.
This armor is most likely of German origin and can be dated to the second half of the 16th century. It was made from forged iron and adorned with blackening over nearly all the surfaces of its components. The blackening creates a pattern of blackened surfaces separated by silver iron strips.
On the helmet, the iron strips are visible on the sides of the bell, while the central strip forms the crest of the sturmhaube. The gorget also features a pattern of three outward-spreading strips, as well as a border on the helmet. The strips from the gorget smoothly flow into the breastplate, and from the breastplate into the lame cuisse. The lames of the pauldrons and side flaps are not blackened, exposing strips of forged and polished iron. On the lames of the pauldrons, there are also strips running the length of each shoulder defense.
The blackening pattern and silver iron strips are designed so that they harmoniously flow downward from the helmet to the rest of the armor.
The sturmhaube helmet has a crest and a movable visor. The edge of the visor is finished with a laced motif typical for protective armor in the 16th century. To the sides of the bell, movable cheek pieces are attached with leather straps, and the chin strap is fastened under the chin with a buckle.
The gorget is connected to the pauldrons by means of pins and rivets. The gorget is wide with rivets at the front and a hook on the right side. The gorget features three movable lames and is finished with a laced motif.
The pauldrons each have six lames arranged from top to bottom.
The breastplate and backplate are connected by buckles and straps on the shoulders and fastened at the waist with a leather strap.
The bottom of the breastplate ends in a fauld made of three riveted lames. To the last lame, seven-flame side protections (nabiodrki) are attached with straps and buckles. These side protections end just above the knee, creating the half armor.
Decorative laced motifs are found on the helmet's visor, the last flaps of the shoulder defenses, the last flaps of the side protections, at the level of the suspensorium, and on the collar of the gorget.