[Rodolfo Martínez]

I saw this armour in a site and i´m not sure wich style, or styles it is. The site says that is italian but i don´t know the century, maybe XVI century. the site doesn´t give any info about it.
Were this type of pauldrons used in XV century too?

Thanks.

[Nathan Robinson]

I have moved this topic to the Historic Arms Talk forum.

Please note the description for this forum:

"Discussions of reproduction and authentic historical arms and armour from various cultures and time periods"

Thank you.

[M. Eversberg II]

15th century? Not sure. But that suit looks Italian to me -- the cuisse are distinctive.

M.

[Nathan Robinson]

That armour is found at the Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna. HJRK Inv. No. A-1400

It is often known as the "Hercules Armour", circa 1550. It was decorated by Eliseus Libaerts (1557-69) based on the designs of Etienne Delaune (1518/19-82).

Please read more about the design in our article: French Royal Armour as Reflected in the Designs of Etienne Delaune.

This is what the museum says of it:

The goldsmith Eliseus Libaerts decorated this armour according to sketches by the French court artist Etienne Delaune (1518/19-1582) for Maximilian II. As an expensive Kunstkammer object it was most likely never worn. On grayed ground are finely chaste tendrils which end in animal heads, masks and half figures; interspersed are fabled creatures, snakes, satyrs, or hanging fruit. Admidst this are figurative scenes showing some of the Herculean Labours. On the lower part of the breastplate two double tailed Bohemian lions hold a coat of arms as proof of Maximilians kingship, which he had since 1549.

[Rodolfo Martínez]

I found this kind of armour in the Malta museum, but with different fauld, and in full, three quarter and half versions, and not as decorated as the hercules armours. The fauld of the Hercules loks like the one in Henry VIII´s harness, but what i want to know if that pattern of pauldrons were used before XVI century.

The site from wich i took the image was this, if you have time please look at the italian armour diagrams, those are great.
http://198.144.2.125/Armour/armour.htm

Thanks.