‡ TWO COMPOSITE ARM-DEFENCES OR SPLINTS, EARLY 16TH CENTURY, PROBABLY NORTH ITALIAN FOR EXPORT TO

‡ TWO COMPOSITE ARM-DEFENCES OR 'SPLINTS', EARLY 16TH CENTURY, PROBABLY NORTH ITALIAN FOR EXPORT TO SOUTH GERMANY AND A PAIR OF BESAGUES IN LATE 15TH CENTURY STYE, LATE 19TH/EARLY 20TH CENTURY the first each comprising in each case an upper arm defence of three plates, a broad couter shaped to the point of the elbow and open at its rear, a gutter-shaped fore-arm defence cut with a central slot, and four shorter plates for the hands (restored, showing areas of pitting and minor delamination), the second in each case of convex circular form, embossed with eight radiating petal-shaped panels, fitted externally at its centre with a stout hexagonal spike, and internally with leather suspension-thongs, the first: 65.0 cm (2) Arm-defences such as these were typically provided as parts of infantry armour known as 'Almain rivets'. A related pair from the armoury of the Knights of St John, Rhodes now preserved at Château de Grandson, Switzerland are illustrated by Richardson and Karcheski, 2000, p. 114, no. 8.6. Part proceeds to benefit the Acquisition Fund of the Arms and Armor department, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.