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Historical Accuracy of a 14th plate gorget?
Lord Dane:
--- Quote from: Sir Brian on 2009-11-05, 15:26:27 ---Believe me I’m very content with my harness being within the ninety percentile group and for all practical purposes that much is even an excess since I only utilize it for renfaire garb for now. ;)
Then again well intentioned and civilized divergence has always been an incentive for me to delve deeper into the research material. It is the company and opinion of such an esteemed gathering as on this forum that helps me solidify a vague and possibly contentious concept into a more precise perception for which I am grateful for all who participates in this discussion. :)
If I was to summarize, my opinion of all historical accuracy conceptions (and in some cases preconceptions) it would simply be that no one should ever make the claim of an item being 100% historically accurate unless they invented a time machine and travelled back to the period in question and fabricated that item utilizing all the methods, tools and materials of the time period, otherwise all other claims of historical accuracy really are just subjective. ;)
--- End quote ---
I share your sentiments, Sir Brian (even if my comments are a late addition to this string). :) I personally like your harness and if it works for your persona even if there is no factual basis or historical reference, so be it. It looks good and fits a historical pattern that did exist at one point. None except those of the time period can actually attest to what was, only to what we presume to be a standard of armor wearers of the period. Even if researchers find factual basis, historical authenticity is not always "accurate" as we find more about of our past (or in essence, reminded of things we actually did practice at one point in time).
Armorers could only do what they had the skill to do (w/ the materials they had at their disposal) but those with the skill could invent wonders for those with the right coin even in early days. Even historical effigies are not going to give every account or historical depiction of what may have existed in a specific time period, but it can always be inferred as possible unless ruled out completely...
I try to make my persona a mix between myself and what was time period, and reflect it both in my armor kit and weapons. I prefer to make my persona more factual or historical than LARP-like or fantasy-based (which could pretty much go anywhere your imagination can take you). Just some food for thought, and like anything else, it's my opinion and subject to scrutiny. It's trying to find a balance between who you are as an individual and the depiction of who you are trying to portray that makes your look come together.
Historians are always going to scrutinize as scientists do over accuracy but artisians who respect the skill will just look on your armor kit as either a "creative wonder" or a "common-place piece" (as most everyday on-lookers will). Either case, it looks good and fits you perfectly so why contest what works. :)
Joshua Santana:
My take is this, historical evidence for a gorget in the 14th Century has not yet poped up. One can make the argument that the effigy of the Black Prince wearing a gorget under the aventail.
However, in regards to safety, if I were fighting in my (soon to come 14th Century Kit Crecy-Poitiers Era) Kit with aventail, I would use a leather or wool gorget to protect my neck. (I salute Sir Blackwolf for pointing the value of such protection). The reason is safety, in regards to historical accuracy, the possibility stands there but evidence is needed.
A metal gorget would be unlikely under the aventail. But it is a good idea.
Sir Wolf:
i personally think he is wearing a padded aventail under his mail aventail.
Joshua Santana:
I second Sir Wolf's proposition!
Lord Dane:
I tend to agree about it being padded under the aventail. Plate and leather would be unlikely. The padding would make the most sense under the maille and can best explain the way it settles differently on the head out towards the shoulders.
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