A Cromwellian Breast Plate

An English Harquebusiers Breastplate.
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ID: 2485

An English Harquebusiers Breastplate, With raised neck and medial ridge terminating in a point at the waist, which dips down to the centre and has a narrow flange. The neck and arms edges have plain inward turns. At either side of the chestier mushroom headed studs for fastening the shoulder straps. The arm edges are bordered with six rivets and the flange with eleven.


External Marks: Stamped at the neck ‘IW’ or possibly ‘W and 1’ 

IW - Joseph Whorewood or John Wright or both. Wright died before Whorewood was made free, so both could have used the same mark. 

John Wright son of Farret Wright of Wallington, Hertford, was apprentice to William Crouch for 8 years from 29 April 1616 and made free on 22 June 1626; Richard Wright (see W) was his brother (Guildhall 12079/2). At the Court in December 1637 John Wright presented his mark ‘IW’ ‘which was ‘formally allowed’ 10th April 1638. 


Internal Marks: The base of the breast plate is cut with ‘IIIIV’ 


Thom Richardson (2004) The London Armourers Of The 17th Century, Henry Ling Ltd, Dorset Press, UK.


Possibly of Duplex Construction. See: 


Anthony de Reuck, David Starley, Thom Richardson & David Edge, `Duplex armour: an unrecognised mode of construction`, Arms & Armour, Vol. 2, no., 1, Royal Armouries Museum, Leeds, 2005.

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