http://manuscriptminiatures.com/4608/12984/

For a while I've been trying to put things together so that I can have a fairly accurate armour harness made based on Italian armour from around the 1430s, the only thing I haven't been able to find actual artifacts for is shoulder armour. Artwork I've found from the time (as seen in the link I included) doesn't depict it too well (I usually can't even tell if it's supposed to be spaulders or pauldrons). Anyone know what that drawing might be representing in terms of shoulder armour?

Looks to me like a simple, dished pauldron with segmented upper arm. The cloak is hiding most of the pauldron, so the actual shape is unknown. But, a simple, rounded shape would be most likely. :) .....McM

If you are just wanting them for costuming purposes, Epic Armoury sells the Merc Steel pauldrons in 18 ga. steel. One piece shoulder, with two lower lames. Buckled belt at the top, and adjustable upper arm buckled belt. The shoulder belt can be used with either the buckle or strap end, or the whole belt---depending on what you are attaching it to. Looks very similar to the picture, though they are not taken from any historically based armor that I know of. I guess you could say they are 'generic'. If you are planning on any SCA/HEMA fighting, something in a thicker gauge steel would serve you better. The Merc's are available at KoA...not a bad price either. :) ..........McM

Google 'Mantova ducal palace Pisanello' and you will see frescos from the mid 1430's showing very large pauldrons They go back further than that.

---

 Attachment: 94.19 KB

Here's another painted by Fabriano c. 1425.

---

 Attachment: 52.81 KB
[ Download ]