This is a fine late example of a fluted armor, made shortly before the style went out of fashion. It is distinguished for its unusually large proportions and impressive height. The bands of scales and the distinctive roping of the lower edge of the associated helmet (acc. no. 38.128.1) and the top edge of the breastplate are features frequently found on armors from northern Germany (possibly Brunswick), a region generally not known for producing fluted armors. The leg defenses are of the same period but originally did not belong with the rest of the armor.
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Title:Armor
Date:ca. 1535
Geography:possibly Brunswick
Culture:German, possibly Brunswick
Medium:Steel, leather
Dimensions:as mounted, H. 77 in. (195.6 cm); Wt. approx. 61 lb. 6 oz. (27.85 kg)
Classification:Armor for Man
Credit Line:Gift of George D. Pratt, 1926
Accession Number:26.92.1a–n
[Thomas Gwenapp, London, by 1816–1833; Arms and Armour and other Implements of War, George Robins, London, June 10–11, 1833, no. 148]; [Samuel Luke Pratt, London, in 1838]; John Alexander Gavin Campbell, Marquis of Breadalbane, London (in 1842); Sir Charles James Savile Montgomerie Lamb, Regents Park, Middlesex, England (until d. 1856; by descent to his son, Archibald); Sir Archibald Lamb, 3rd Baronet Burges, Beauport Park, Battle, Sussex, England (1856–d. 1921; his estate sale, Arms and Armour the Property of Sir Archibald Lamb, Bart, Christie, Manson & Woods, London, May 15, 1922, no. 71, sold to Whawell); [Samuel James Whawell, London, 1922–1924; sold to MMA].
London. Gothic Hall, Pall Mall. "A Grand Collection of Antient Arms and Armour," 1819, no. 18.
London. The Gothic Armoury, No. 3 Lower Grosvenor Street. "Exhibition of Ancient Arms and Armour," 1838, no. 19 (possibly this armor, mounted on a horse).
Hastings, England. Science and Art Schools, The Brassey Institute. "Loan Exhibition of Armour At the Brassey Institute," 1896.
Gothic Hall. Catalogue of a Splendid Collection of Military Antiquities, Comprising the Most Rare and Interesting Specimens of Arms and Armour from the Norman Conquest to the Latest Periods. 4th ed. London, 1819. pp. 7–8, no. 18.
Meyrick, Samuel Rush. A Critical Inquiry into Antient Armour: As It Existed in Europe, but Particularly in England, from the Norman Conquest to the Reign of King Charles II, with a Glossary of Military Terms of the Middle Ages. Vol. 2. 1st ed. London: Robert Jennings, London, 1824. p. 115 ("fluted suit of Albert of Bavaria," possibly this armor).
Pratt, Samuel L. Catalogue of the Exhibition of Ancient Arms and Armour, No. 3 Grosvenor Street. London, 1838. no. 19 (a fluted armor of colossal size, possibly this armor).
Meyrick, Samuel Rush. A Critical Inquiry into Antient [sic] Armour: As It Existed in Europe, Particularly in Great Britain from the Norman Conquest to the Reign of King Charles II.... Vol. III. 2nd ed. London: H. G. Bohn, 1842. p. 115 ("fluted suit of Albert of Bavaria," possibly this armor).
Fairbank, Frederick Royston. Catalogue of the Loan Exhibition [consisting Chiefly of Armour and Rubbings of Brasses] at the Brassey Institute, March 16th, 1896, and Introductory Handbook, &c., of the Same, by F.r. Fairbank. [with Plates.]. St. Leonards: Daniel & Co., 1896. no. 161.
Diener-Schönberg, Alfons. Die Waffen der Wartburg: Beschreibendes Verzeichnis der Waffen–Sammlung S.K.H. des Grossherzogs Wilhelm Ernst von Sachsen–Weimar-Eisenach. Berlin: Historischer Verlag Baumgärtel, 1912. no. 22, tafel 11 (a similar armor).
Christie, Manson & Woods. Catalogue of a Collection of Arms and Armour: The Property of Sir Achibald Lamb. London: Christie, Manson & Woods, May 15, 1922. p. 7, no. 71.
Cripps-Day, Francis Henry. A Record of Armour Sales, 1881–1924. London: G. Bell and Sons, 1925. pp. 249–50, fig. 192, and p. xlviii, n. 7.
Grancsay, Stephen V. "Maximilian Armor." The Metropolitan Museum of Art Bulletin (April 1928), pp. 97, 100–103, ill. (on cover), fig. 1.
Grancsay, Stephen V. "A Maximilian Helmet and Gauntlet Retrieved." The Metropolitan Museum of Art Bulletin (December 1938), pp. 268–71, fig. 2.
Lane, James W. "Notes from New York." Apollo (January 1939), pp. 90–91.
Spitzlberger, Georg. Landshuter Plattnerkunst, Ein Überblick mit Katalog der Ausstellung, vom 14. Juni bis 20. Juli 1975, täglich 9–17 Uhr, im Deutschen Saal der Stadtresidenz. Landshut: K. Möginger, 1975. p. 55, pl. 19.
Grancsay, Stephen V., and Stuart W. Pyhrr. Arms & Armor: Essays by Stephen V. Grancsay from the Metropolitan Museum of Art Bulletin 1920–1964. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1986.
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