A Rare German Composite 'Maximilian' Full Armour

Circa 1520 And Later

Of bright steel with characteristic fluting between incised double line borders, the main edges mostly turned and roped, comprising close-helmet with one-piece skull rising to a roped comb between lines of small etched triangles, pierced with two pairs of small holes for lining laces at the back, around the flanged rear with a line of dome-headed lining rivets, and struck with an indistinct armourer's mark to the left of the tubular plume-holder, the latter incised with pairs of diagonal lines, neck-guard of two articulated plates en suite with the skull and with recessed roped borders etched with running foliate scrollwork against a granular ground, the bevor and prow-shaped visor pivoting at the same points on each side and both with fluting en suite with the skull, the former shaped to the chin (minor old holes) and throat, the latter matching the neck-guard and with bevelled borders, pierced with horizontal vision slits above a raised projection, and with small pierced ventilation holes, on either side at the front with a line of further ventilation holes between keyhole piercings, replacement lifting-peg, and two sprung button-catches on the right, gorget of four plates front and back, hinged together on the left and secured together by pin-catches on the right, breast-plate (minor internal patch at the neck-turn, rivetted repair along the left armhole gusset, small repair on the right) with hinged curved lance-rest, later fauld of four plates and tassets of four plates each, back-plate en suite (rivetted internal repairs) with culet of four plates, full arm and leg harness incorporating earlier elements, the former comprising pauldrons each of six plates, the upper plates extending over the front and back, and three plates over the upper arms linked by a turning joint to the upper cannon of the vambrace, couters each with heart-shaped haute-piece, and tubular lower cannons each hinged together and secured by a pin-catch, the latter comprising cuisses each with heart-shaped poleyns, detachable greaves each hinged on one side and with pin-catches on the other, and articulated 'bear-paw' sabatons each with central roped ridge down the front and slotted at the rear for spurs, and mitten gauntlets: on a wooden stand mounted on a wooden plinth, the latter carved in relief on the front and sides with a differing trophy of arms