DI 2010-1420

Asset ID: 16492 Title: Wilton armour Description: Pair of saddle steels from an armour of King Henry VIII (known as the Wilton armour). Italian, about 1540. For bow of saddle. Originally of three plates, the central plate missing. Each plate is pierced with an attachment hole. The steels are decorated with vertical sunken bands etched and formerly gilt with running foliage interspersed with animals, birds and classical figures. The upper and side edges are roped, with sunken borders whose decoration includes dogs in form similar to greyhounds or whippets. Object Data: Object Title:Saddle steel Date:1540 Object Number:VI.121 Provenance:Old Tower Collection Physical Description:For bow of saddle. Originally of three plates, the central plate missing. Each plate is pierced with an attachment hole. The steels are decorated with vertical sunken bands etched and formerly gilt with running foliage interspersed with animals, birds and classical figures. The upper and side edges are roped, with sunken borders whose decoration includes dogs in form similar to greyhounds or whippets. Object Title:Saddle steel Date:1540 Object Number:VI.122 Provenance:Old Tower Collection Physical Description:For cantle of saddle. Consists of two plates overlapped right to left and pierced for a bolt. Each plate is also pierced with an attachment hole. The steels are decorated with vertical sunken bands etched and formerly gilt with running foliage interspersed with animals, birds and classical half-figures. The upper edge is roped and has a sunken border, whose decoration includes dogs of the form of greyhounds or whippets. Asset Reference: DI 2010-1420.tif Licence type: Wholly owned Keywords:

• Horse armour parts
• Saddle steels
• Henry VIII
• King of England
• Cantle
• Bow