We are really proud of this project!
For your attention - handcrafted full-plate etched garniture of George Clifford, Third Earl of Cumberland, end of XVI century (1590-1592).
Some historical background of this unique medieval armor.
His Majesty Henry VIII left a mark in history so brightly, as anybody did. Majority remembers about his wives, some keeps in mind Anglican Church, very few are aware of foundation of the Royal Navy, laid by him. But, quite a few knows that there is Henry VIII to whom we owed the appearance of the Royal Almain Armoury and Greenwich Armours in the 1525 year.
Guest German artisans were creating armor of the singular beauty and quality and teaching English armorers. So, Royal Armoury was developing on the German base and by borrowing some knowledges from other arms schools. There was no lack of orders at Greenwich artisans. They were improving, so Greenwich armour successfully competed with German and Italian armor.
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So, when we required sample of real medieval armor, not only beautiful and striking, but also suitable for real medieval fight both on the war and tournament, so we chose Cumberland armor without thinking twice. As this armor is flawless as visually, so functionally. Besides, among all the items from the arsenal of Greenwich workshop, it is best preserved, boggling the imagination up to now.
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This set is typical one, but the most beautiful representative of the Greenwich workshop, featuring fanciful mix of armor elements from the other workshops. Although German blacksmiths stood at the origins of workshops, the cuirass and spaulders of this set were borrowed from the Italian armor, and helmet is Burgundian armet. Tasses and cuisses were taken from the Low-German and Nurnberg schools, other elements – from Augsburg workshop.
Such combination allowed Jacob Halder (and later, Steel Mastery artisans) to create unique battle set, which is light, articulated and well protecting at the same time. We guess there is one of the best medieval armor to choose.
Regarding elements of armor, so knight’s head is protected with late armet with chin plate on hinges and two-part visor. Gorget of two plates protects the neck.
Body is covered with cuirass with tasses. Asymmetrical spaulder of five plates are designed as for dismounted, so for mounted battle.
Two-leaved plate arms with circular protection are completely shut and do not restrict movements. Gauntlets with long pointed cuffs, 13-strips hand protection and scale defense of thumbs continue arms’ protection.
Entire tassets with steel plates pass into two-leaved greaves, which end with sabatons of six plates with not wide and non pointed nose.
Decoration of medieval battle armor deserves big attention. Elegant etching covers armor with fine floral “Tudor” ornament, which was popular among Greenwich artisans and actual up to now. We did not add gilding, as on the Cumberland armor, striving to create a replica with a hint of individuality.
Text is taken from: https://steel-mastery.com/full-plate-armor-garniture-of-george-clifford-third-earl-of-cumberland-end-of-xvi-century-1590-1592.html
