Antique Armor LLC

ULTRA RARE 6 COPPER-ENGRAVED COLOR DRAWINGS/PAGES FROM “WEAPONS HANDLING OF CAVILERS, MUSKETS AND PIKES” BY J. de GHYEN 1608:

Introduction: The entireultra-rare, highly expensive manual sells for over $25,000 when available!The six drawings (pages) under discussion sell for a fraction of that and will adorn the wall of any early 1600’s collector.
And it costs a microscopic fraction of the cost of the book!
Created in 1607–1608 under the orders of Prince Maurice of Orange, the manual was designed to standardize infantry drills for the Dutch army during their revolt against Spain. It provided a step-by-step visual and written guide to teach

“inexperienced soldiers”, the “entire and perfect handling” of standard 17th-century weaponry.

The book was an “overnight sensation” in Europe and was quickly translated into German, English, and Danish. It even influenced artists like Rembrandt, who is said to have drawn inspiration from its depictions of soldiers for his famous painting, The Night Watch. While the original Dutch version (Wapenhandelinghe) was published in 1607, the French edition followed in 1608, published in Amsterdam by Robert de Baudous.

While commissioned by the Dutch Prince Maurice, the French editions were widely circulated in France during the reign of Louis XIII (1601–1643), as the king was a noted arms enthusiast and military reformer who centralized French infantry training.

Discussion: The manual is famous for its 117 copper engravings, which are divided into three distinct series:
Arquebuses: 42 plates showing the use of the lighter matchlock firearm. Muskets: 43 plates illustrating the handling of the heavier musket and its fork rest. Pikes: 32 plates demonstrating postures for the long pike.

Jacob De Gheyn II (Jacob De Gheyn the Younger), who was born in Antwerp in 1565 and died in The Hague on 29 March 1629, was a...

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AN EXCEPTIONALLY ELEGANT ETCHED GERMAN BURGONET IN THE TASTE OF CIRCA 1580 BY MASTER ARMORER ERNST SCHMIDT:

Introduction: This burgonet is so well-made that most people who see it in person think it’s a mint condition museum piece that you spent $30K-$40K to acquire! This is a masterful etched burgonet by German Master Armorer Ernst Schmidt 1870s–1930). He was a prominent German craftsman and dealer based in Munich, Germany, renowned for his highly detailed reproductions of Medieval and Renaissance Arms and Armor. His reproductions are highly collectable and are displayed even in museums today.
The Victorian period in the United Kingdom was from 1837 to 1901; The Historismus period refers to a similar period in Germany and surrounding countries that was widespread in the 19th century and still partly resonated in the early 20th century. During the Victorian and Historismus periods, the fad among the mega wealthy was collecting Arms and Armor. Collecting was fashionable, but there weren’t enough authentic period Arms and Armor pieces to satisfy demand, so many exceptional reproductions were made. Many of these pieces were very well made by old-world artisans. Now, after over 100 years, these pieces have aged and, for many collectors, are difficult to distinguish from period pieces.
Discussion: If this were an etched burgonet from 1580 in similar mint condition, you would be paying $20,000 -$30,000! Instead, it’s priced at a fraction of that. Here are some key facts about German Master Armorer...

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AN ULTRA ELEGANT GERMAN CURASSIER HEAVY CAVALRY ARMOR CIRCA 1610: All period pieces with no Victorian replacements! Exceptionally well matched with many homogeneous pieces. Bargain-priced for a quick sale.

Introduction: Walk into the office, living room, or den of any house with a full suit of armor, and instantly your eye is drawn to it. A suit of armor makes a loud and powerful statement of class, style, taste, sophistication, wealth, power, fortitude, and a certain unique mystique that no other decoration or art can match. It speaks volumes about its owner without saying a single word.

Heavy Cavalry consisted of a three-quarter armor with a close helmet and knee-length tassets. Greaves and sabatons were replaced with leather boots. From 1620 onwards, they were referred to as cuirassier after discarding their lances. By circa 1600, the heavy lance began to go out of vogue, except for Scotland and Spain. The Germans continued to manufacture cuirassier armor much longer than England and other parts of Europe until circa 1650. The cuirassier was active as early as the English Civil War and in the Thirty Years’ War.

Mass-produced suits of armor such as this one under discussion (typically for export) were usually made in three sizes: (A) small, (B) medium, and (C) large. I believe this armor is large. Mass-produced armor is the opposite of a custom suit of armor made for a wealthy knight or nobility that was measured the same way a modern custom tailor measures for a perfectly fitting suit. Both contract production and custom-made armors are considered homogeneous if all parts are kept together.

Discussion: The decline of armor had already begun around the middle of the 16th century. Protective defensive armor came to a screeching end circa 1640. Most attribute the decline of Visit the website in the bio or DM me now for more information.