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Harquebusier's Armor of Pedro II, King of Portugal (reigned 1683–1706) with Buff Coat

Armorer Armor attributed to Richard Holden British
Armorer Helmet cheek pieces and metal plates on shoulder straps made by Daniel Tachaux French
ca. 1683 and later; buff coat, 17th–18th century
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 371
This armor can be identified by its decoration as having belonged to Pedro II (reigned 1683–1706). The decoration includes the crowned monogram PR for Pedro Rex (Pedro the King) and the cross of the commander of the Order of Christ, a hereditary office held by the kings of Portugal.

Harquebusiers were armored cavalrymen generally equipped with a carbine (known as a harquebus) carried at the right side on a shoulder belt, a pair of pistols holstered at the front of the saddle, and a sword. This form of armor, consisting of a triple-barred helmet, a cuirass with a bulletproof reinforcing breastplate, and an elbow gauntlet, was commonplace in England up to about 1645. The armor of King Pedro is significant not only as a very late example of this type but also as the probable work of the London armorer Richard Holden. A very similar armor made by Holden in 1686 for James II of England (reigned 1685–88) is in the Royal Armouries in the Tower of London.

The armor is shown with an associated buff coat. This sturdy leather defense, which provided effective protection against sword cuts, was worn throughout the seventeenth century, first in conjunction with armor and later alone.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Harquebusier's Armor of Pedro II, King of Portugal (reigned 1683–1706) with Buff Coat
  • Armorer: Armor attributed to Richard Holden (British, London, recorded 1658–1708)
  • Armorer: Helmet cheek pieces and metal plates on shoulder straps made by Daniel Tachaux (French, 1857–1928, active in France and America)
  • Date: ca. 1683 and later; buff coat, 17th–18th century
  • Geography: London
  • Culture: British, London; buff coat, European
  • Medium: Steel, gold, leather, textile
  • Dimensions: armor (15.113.1–.5): Wt. 43 lb. 5 oz. (19.6 kg); helmet: 14 x 11 x 15 1/4 in. (35.6 x 27.9 x 38.7 cm); Wt. 9 lb. 10 oz. (4354 g); breastplate: 18 1/2 x 16 5/16 x 7 13/16 in. (47 x 41.4 x 19.8 cm); Wt. 10 lb. 14 oz. (4944 g); backplate: 17 1/2 x 16 1/4 x 8 1/2 in. (44.5 x 41.3 x 21.6 cm); Wt. 11 lb. 5 oz. (5126 g); reinforcing breastplate: 17 3/8 x 16 3/16 x 6 13/16 in. (44.1 x 41.1 x 17.3 cm); Wt. 9 lb. 6 oz. (4264 g); bridle gauntlet: 5 1/2 x 19 7/16 x 6 3/4 in. (14 x 49.4 x 17.1 cm); Wt. 2 lb. 2 oz. (953 g); buff coat (29.158.885): L. 35 in. (88.9 cm)
  • Classification: Armor for Man
  • Credit Line: Armor: Rogers Fund, 1915; buff coat: Bashford Dean Memorial Collection, Funds from various donors, 1929
  • Object Number: 15.113.1–.5; 29.158.885
  • Curatorial Department: Arms and Armor

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