15th Century German Knight, Horse and Pavillion

[Bossk]

With all of its attendant accessories and gear, this is probably my single most elaborate costume. I put this all toether while I was stationed in Germany, and displayed it all across Europe at historical events at Medieval castles and historical parks.

The armor for man and horse came from sources ranging from Arizona to India, to Austria, (and some parts made myself), and is a copy of an original harness circa 1480's that was displayed for years in the Tower of London, and is now in the new Royal Armouries Museum in Leeds. This is one of the world's best examples of German "Gothic" armor, and several movie costumes have attempted to copy it, but to my knowledge, never to this detail, or with original weight materials.

But a knight wealthy enough to have such a fine armor must have a fine pavillion when away from his castle. I made and painted this huge tent, copying one in the same shape and color scheme from an old medieval manuscript. The period-correct furnishings were acquired from years of scrounging flea markets in Belgium, France and Germany.

Now I have all of this stuff set up in an original, hand hewn log cabin a few miles from Fort Campbell KY, where I run the Army Museum there. I want to build a castle on my land for all the medieval stuff -- if I can win the lottery!

 

[Flachzange]

Absolutely stunning!

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Awesome work! How much does it all weigh on you?

 

[Ttaskmaster]

or with original weight materials.

That's gotta be awesome!!!

I've had a fair few dealings with "armourers" who make these ultra heavy bits of kit. Granted they look nice enough, but for actual weight... they're hopeless!!

How did you find out the weight of the original?

 

[Tambo Fett]

Dan has the most amazing collection I have ever seen of real armor.

 

[Bossk]

Awesome work! How much does it all weigh on you?

Thanks, Bruce. The ccomplete plate for man is about 70 lbs, with about another 20 lbs for the chain mail. The mail would weigh more if an actual shirt, but is is actually a skirt and arm/armpit pieces attached to a padded arming doublet as the extra armor (and weight) of a complete shirt under the breast armor would be redundant.

While that is still a lot of weight (90 lbs), it is not that noticeable when strapped all over your body, until you do a lot of walking in it.

 

[SmilingOtter]

Beautiful!

 

[Evil Benius]

Absolutely amazing work, you definitely went all out.

 

[Phantom017]

WOW!!!!! My jaw was dropped the whole time I was looking at those. I have always dreamed of doing that for years! If only. Absolutely stunning and beautiful!

good job sir.

 

[Bossk]

That's gotta be awesome!!!

I've had a fair few dealings with "armourers" who make these ultra heavy bits of kit. Granted they look nice enough, but for actual weight... they're hopeless!!

How did you find out the weight of the original?

Most Museums will tell you how much a specific suit of armor weighs, as weighing it is part of the cataloguing process (we do the same in the Fort Campbell, Pratt Museum where I am the Director/Curator.

These armours are really not that bad to wear, even all day (which I have done many times). The knight could get off and on a horse wearing it (as I had one also), and be able to fight on foot wearing it.

The really heavy armours were those worn for tournaments where weight was not a real consideration, as it is in combat.

The killer with this armor was using it in the "Draconian" costume, which added nearly 30 pounds directly on the back and shoulders, and then marching in a parade, and going up and down stairs all day in hot Aug-Sep Georgia weather.

 

[Ttaskmaster]

Most Museums will tell you how much a specific suit of armor weighs, as weighing it is part of the cataloguing process

Thought so.

Why then, I wonder, do a lot of sword-makers and 'armourers' not bother to ask? Especially the re-enactment lot?
Why do they insist on this Victorian idea that armour must be heavy?

Surely logic dictates that, if people fought all day in these things, the armour must be light enough that a knight wouldn't need to be crane-lifted onto his horse... could indeed get up if he fell over in battle... wouldn't need to be a big man to lift his sword... and do other such stuff that modern myths say they can't.

 

[RangerAndy]

:eek I really don't know what to say. That is simply amazing!

Andy

 

[Krull]

Ok,I like you,armor has always been a thing for me since I was a kid and I always wanted some......just oiling it so it won't rust is a pain! :lol

But they have guys making it now out of stainless...

 

[Darth Mule]

Wow! What an amazing collection. I spent my fair share of time doing the Ren Faire thing as a young costume designer, so I can fully appreciate the setup. You don't often see the horse armor though, at least not stateside. That's what really caught my eye.

Why do they insist on this Victorian idea that armour must be heavy?

Weird that Victorians would think this when they didn't wear armor. :lol

 

[Ttaskmaster]

Weird that Victorians would think this when they didn't wear armor. :lol

The Victorian Historians are responsible for a LOT of false commonplaces in society.
Things like the idea that Anglo-Saxons were uneducated, on the basis that they didn't leave reams of written works. The Dissolution Of The Monateries saw to the loss of MANY such books. The Battle Of Maldon (I believe) was found recycled as lining for a foreign book!!

The modern artisan's flaw is based on the same mistake that the Victorians made - They see a picture of a chap clad in armour with a big sword and assume it's heavy. They make something the same size from whatever metal, not knowing how it was made, and find a 15lb sword, for example. The next assumption is that all swordsmen were built like Arnie just to lift the damn thing.

Truth is, a Broadsword is about 2-3lbs at most. With something that light, you can easily fight for extended periods!


It's only recently, thanks in part to re-enactors and history enthusiasts, that original pieces have been properly examined and properly reproduced by modern makers.

 

[MooCriket]

Very impressive and very, very well done:thumbsup

 

[iycis]

Great work! I love 15th and 16th century clothing and armor. Would love to make a Cranach dress for myself if I ever do any SCA events again.

 

[stormtrooperguy]

Wow, that's fantastic!

I've got a project in the back of my head to make a relatively accurate suit of plate out of vac formed plastic. Something that would look the part but not have the weight.

I've worn maile and partial plate and that's enough to knock me over after a few hours... never mind a full suit!!

 

[Angelus Lupus]

Absolutely beautiful, and I love the tapestry and furniture, too! The most I've ever fought in is a mail hauberk but I can appreciate and admire your endurance.

 

[TMP]

Thats a nice collection. We used allot of Armor reffrence for wearing integrated in our Ironman design. I wish i had a real armor