I'm having my old armet refitted, decorated and restuffed, with the intent of using it for jousting in addition to living history activities and interpretation, and I thought I would post some progress pics. It is also being fitted with a wrapper in springsteel.

Right now, a full liner has been made for it, and it is being fitted with a decorative washer and orb, as seen in such images as the deeds of Richard Beauchamp, and various Low Countries art. This is a speculative reconstruction of course, as there is only one surviving, very late 15th century example.

A number of decorative plume holders appear in Italian art as well, what the bulk of these were actually made of, we do not know, and presumably some of the ones seen in Ucello's "The Rout of San Romano" are made of cuirbolli and light wood, carved, embossed, decorated and gilded. The only extant example, however, is found on the sallet of Phillip the Fair, located in Madrid, and dating to the 1490's. It is an example of the goldsmiths art, and is a silver-gilt pomegranate, representing the kingdom of Grenada, which of course had been reconquered by Castile and Aragon in 1492.

We decided to go with the decoration being in light brasswork, with some silver accents, and eventually to be gilded. The washer, which is seen here roughed out, is in the form of a wavy-armed star, or the star of Bethlehem. To be fitted is an orb, or 'pomme', which will have a band of silver beads round its equator. The orb will have a central tube, and will screw to a rod which will fit into the keel of the helmet bowl. The rod will be in two parts, so the rod may be extended into a banderole post, or the top may be left off so the orb will act as a plume holder.

Only one crest holder for an armet is extant (and this armet, made by Jeff Hedgecock in 1999, has a copy of it), which I've used as a banderole post in the past, but with questionable success - it bobbles. The reason it does, however, is the rod he copied as apparently intended to support a cuirbolli crest, which would of course be more substantial and stable.

What is a 'banderole post', and why have one, you ask? It is a small post to fly a little pennon of silk from, and I have one as the ordinances of the Burgundian companies of the Ordinances calls for a chef de chambre to wear such a small pennon, bearing the numbers of his squadron and chambre. Examples of these can be seen on a variety of helmets in the engravings of the MAster WA, active in Briuge from the 1460's-1480's, as well as other artwork contemporary.

Once the armet is finished being decorated, and fitted with a wrapoper, I will make a cuirbolli and paper mache crest for it, to work with the crest holder made by Jeff - examples of these crest holders can be seen in Rene of Anjou's Book of the Tournament.

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I've been working toward that goal for a couple of years. I'll never be a contender, I am sure, but I wanted the experience for a framework of what it was like to be struck with a lance, or strike someone with a lance, to have something to put into the context of a cavalry charge.

Here is an image of the brass elements sitting together, the orb before it gets its equator of silver pips or beads.

The washer is on the bottom, followed by the orb, which has what is a decorative nut sitting on top, and sitting on that is the fleur de lys fineal for the banderole post.

Yes, depending on circumstances, I'll wear the pennon (if we have more than 12 other burgundians together), or the feathers if we only have 1 lance present, or the cuirbolli crest for a tournament presentation (but not a joust, just for the mounted melee. I'll wear feathers for a joust.)

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When I finally put together a proper panache of feath,ers for it, I intend to have little beads of lapis and gold (or gilt) running up the white ostrich plumes, and seed pearls and gold or gilt beads up the spines of the blue ones. A friend who apprenticed and worked as a goldsmith and jeweler, and who is a keen student of 15th century material culture told me the trick of doing this.

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I look forward to seeing the finished article.

If you don't mind, I would be interested in the mechanics behind attaching the pearls etc to the plume spines. I am already looking at my new crest and working on improving it.

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Cheers

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Cheers

I'm sure the pearl will make a nice find someday.

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Well, for people of the station to actually be jousting past the mid 15th century, display of status (station, really) was as important a consideration for them as for you or me paying the electric bill, or heating the house in Winter.

To our society (or more likely, the recent past and the greatest generation going through the depression), saving money was the most important thing one could do with it, to have a little saved away 'for a rainy day'. To a medieval person, savings - other than in the temporary form, of 'plate' - primarily used for display of status - which could be converted into coin in a pinch, just wasn't done. To 'hoard money' made one the medieval stock-vilian, the MISER. Louis XI was often ridiculed by his contemporaries for his "shabby appearance" (that of a middle-class townsman, more often than not, so hardly 'shabby' in a real sense, just shabby for a nobleman, and even shameful for a king).

A nobleman (of whatever income), was expected to live up to their income, displaying their station visibly, and giving generously to followers and the poor. In a very real way, courts, and the courtiers, as well as local gentry and nobility while resident in the countryside, were the driving force of a medieval economy, collecting, and distributing wealth as soon as they collected it in.

A 'poor' knight in the 15th century would be akin in income to such impoverished souls as successful software engineers, bankers, or middle managers, sort of like the hundred-thousandaire at a country-club function with a bunch of millionairs, and a few billionaires heading it up.

So, the fellow losing his few baubles off a plume (and these are small beads, not the size of rosary beads or the like), could well afford the loss, even if it would feed an artisans family for a week. Would they wear such things to a tournament? absolutely, as this is an important venue for display. Would they wear it in battle? probably not, unless they were a nobleman of high status.

Charles the Bold lost a jeweled feather (actually, two I believe), at Gradson, along with a jeweled velvet hat, described as a crown, and valued at the least at 500,000 crowns.

Charles the Bold, I am not, but a few small semi-precious or decorative beads dressing up a couple of plumes for dress occasions would not necessarily be beyond an officer in the Burgundian army, and it would give the audience at the Higgins a really good glimpse into the sorts of decoration seen in martial displays. In comparison, the display is much cheaper for me in real value than it would be to a 15th century person, even Ostrich plumes themselves were very costly. (they aren't cheap now, at least in the US, at $13-$20 apiece, but they are WAY cheaper in comparison to the 15th century value).

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Originally posted by Rod Walker:
Looking very nice Bob.

I look forward to seeing the finished article.

If you don't mind, I would be interested in the mechanics behind attaching the pearls etc to the plume spines. I am already looking at my new crest and working on improving it.

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Hi Rod,

It is really simple, basically, you need very small beads of whatever material, and quality silk thread of the colour of the plume. Run the thread through the bead, pick the spot on the plume - I forget what the little veins making up the feather itself are called, but run the thread on those right above where the bead is going, and then very carefully tie the thread, and clip it close once knotted. Think of it like tying a fishing fly. The technique has apparently been done on occasion in living memory. Tedious work, I should think.

I asked Martin if glue should be employed, and he did not think so.

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quote:

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Originally posted by Fire Stryker:

I'm sure the pearl will make a nice find someday.

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Hehe, I did actually say to my squires beforehand that any pearls or jewels that fell off, they could have

We have some small rubys and sapphires to be used on something of Michelles.

Thanks for the tip on attaching to the plumes Bob.

They should look very sexy.

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Cheers

Patrick is checking out the plating costs, to see if we can't just get it done before putting on the silver equator.

Here is a pick with the wrapper in place, before hardening and tempering, and before being fitted with it's strap and buckle.

And here is a close up of the new lifting peg - it needed to be a tudge longer than the old one, to ease my lifting the visor in full harness.

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I can't express how pleased I am with the result so far. I can hardly wait to see it finished!

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It is silk, violet for the 10th company, with St. Julien in the hoist, a ragged St. Andrews Cross, a Fusil & Briquet badge, with sparks - all in gold and silver leaf, with the saints faces and drapery illuminated as in the extant surviving Burgundian ordinance flags.

Jorge does Supurb work.

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[ 04-13-2008: Message edited by: chef de chambre ]

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Best,

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Db

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