Hi I have read on the internet that there are depictions of Kasten-brust breastplates in the 14th century can anyone point me in there direction?
Also does anyone know of Bicoquet helmets and where I might find some pics?
And lastly I have seen a armet dated at 1410, when did they start?
Hope someone out there knows, best regards Lawrence

Hello,

There are a number of pictures of combatants in grand bascinets and kastenbrust breastplates in Talhoffer's 1443 Gothaer Codex:
http://jfgilles.club.fr/escrime/bibliotheque/...es/053.jpg

There are at least two extant armets from the first quarter of the 15th century; I'll attach a picture of the ones I know about here.

In addition, you can see figures wearing armets in Fiore from c. 1410-15:
http://www.thehaca.com/pdf/Dl22.jpg

I hope this helps.

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The best contemporary image I know of is in Edge's "Knight" book. Can't recall the artist, but it's a famous painting in its own right. There's also the one shown below, ca. 1450. Follow this link to the best source I know for medieval depictions of German arms and armour.

http://www.imareal.oeaw.ac.at/realonline/

You need to know the German terms for what you're looking for. "Panzerbrust" turned up only this image, but I know the database has hundreds if not thousands of depictions of armour. Crucifixion scenes are always good sources for arms and armour information. To begin, choose "Materielle Objekte" from the pull-down menu, set the date range and click "Auswählen". That will take you to "A," and you can either just scroll through the alphabet searching for stuff or you can type what you're looking for in the box below the apha listing and hit return or enter on your keyboard. That'll take you straight to that word, which will be highlighted. Once you have something highlighted, click on "Zeige Bilder". That action will call up all the images related to the search word.

If you don't have any luck looking just for armor, look through the results for these terms:
Helm
Schwert
Spiess
Helmbarte

These will show you LOTS of armour.

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Here's another example from that database. This one is ca. 1440. In addition to the armour, note the gilt mace suspended from his saddle. This is the only depiction of such carriage that I know of.

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This is the famous one I mentioned above--Sabobai and Benaiah by Witz.

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Hello.

The Kastenbrust evolved after AD 1400 and lasted until about 1450. It was popular in Germany and Flanders. Unfortunately only one composite harness survives in Vienna, apart from this there is only contemporary art to base further research upon.
What is labelled "bicocquet" by authors that sucked their honey from Viollet- le- Duc usually is called a Grand Bascinet.

Fabulous contemporary depictions of Kastenbrust armour can be found in the paintings of Jan van Eyck and Konrad Witz. Or on just about any painted or sculpted St George, St Michael and St Florian from the time and place mentioned above.

Regards

Ivo[/quote]
Hi, it is the depictions prior to 1400 I am interested in and the one in vienna that I have seen pictures of doesn't really look like a Kastenbrust to me but something else, though there are armours with breastplates more like the illustrations than that.
It is the very early forms of the Great Bascinet that I am inquiring about.
Thankyou very much for your input, much appreciated.

Thanks Sean, I found some depictions of Armets from 1403 without visors which was interesting, brilliant resource wish I knew german ;) but no Kastenbrust as yet .

There is one cuiraiss up in Glasgow. It is in Tobias Capwell's book for those who are looking for an existant one.

RPM

Hi Hugh, the top 'Armet' doesn't seem to have any method for fixing a visor and looks a lot like some in a picture I found on a listed site above from 1403 which also did not have visors?

Thanks for that Randall I will order that book tomorrow.

Here's a bunch of links to more pics and information about the Kastenbrust Breastplate:

http://www.fioredeiliberi.org/gallery2/main.p...temId=6924
http://www.fioredeiliberi.org/gallery2/main.p...temId=6706
http://gallery.the-exiles.org/view_photo.php?...amp;id=aaz
http://gallery.the-exiles.org/view_photo.php?...amp;id=aat
http://www.richardiii.net/PDFS/scan_dove_armour.pdf
http://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%9A%D0%B0%D1%...5%D0%B8%29

Enjoy

Danny