A Late 14th C Pisan

[Ian]

So, it was suggested to me to add a pisan to my kit (a maille standard if you speak 15th c ).  This is worn in addition to the bascinet/aventail combination, providing a double layer of padded maille around the throat.  I guess they felt it was important to protect that area in the Middle Ages ;-)

These things appear all over inventories of the 14th century in conjunction with aventails, so it is very appropriate to have.  I decided to make this one as 'authentically' as I could.  I bought the maille (not even going to contemplate forging wire...) from icefalcon, it's flat-ring wedge-riveted.  I then constructed a linen liner for this, and hand stitched everything on it including the quilting.  It's lightly padded with cotton on the inside.  Then I whipstitched the maille to the linen liner using waxed-linen thread.  And thence added the vegetable tanned leather edging along the top edge and sewed it all together.

Currently it only ties together in the back with leather thongs, but I will add leather straps/buckles at some point, but wanted to get done what I could for now:

[Sir Douglas]

Wow! Very nice indeed!

How does all that padding feel when you move your neck around? Does it dig into the ol' Adam's apple or anything?

And kind of off-topic, but where did you get your leather?

[Sir Nate]

When a man needs leather, he takes his bow and knife, and makes way into the wood.

[Sir Edward]

Wow, awesome!

I, on the other hand, cheated and instead hired Fuhlen Designs to do the work.

Here's how mine turned out (clicky):

[Ian]

Doug, the liner feels fine against the neck.  It feels infinitely better than maille would against my skin.  I don't have a super-prominent adam's apple,  but I don't think it would matter.  It's got enough cushion that I don't think it will bother you.  I didn't notice any pressure there.  I'll report back when I've worn this thing for several hours on end though. 

The leather is a 3/4 oz vegetable tanned double shoulder I got from Tandy.  It's the same piece I plan to make the uppers of my shoes from.  I've also got a 9/10 oz double shoulder sitting around for the soles.

And Sir Ed, Jessica as always does nice work!

[Sir Wolf]

super nice! i do love standards. they help complete the look

[Sir James A]

Very nice! Mine looks immensely modern in comparison. I need to get a few pics of it to really highlight  how nicely yours turned out. I never got around to making a better one. Nicky Hughes on DoK was asking about one a while back.. maybe even last year? Tag him on the Book of Faces, he may still be interested in seeing it.

[Sir Rodney]

I have a nice riveted mail standard purchased second hand from Sir Edward a LONG time ago just sitting in my workshop waiting for me to do some sewing. 

Time to get off my butt and join the cool kids.

[Sir William]

Is this worn in addition to a gorget and/or aventail?  Looking at Sir Ian's avatar, I don't see how you'd ever notice the pisan under the helm and aventail.

[Sir Edward]

Is this worn in addition to a gorget and/or aventail?  Looking at Sir Ian's avatar, I don't see how you'd ever notice the pisan under the helm and aventail.

Not with a gorget, as this is really a gorget in itself, just made of mail. But yes, they can be worn under the aventail, or with a sallet+bevor (for instance) in the 15th.

[Sir William]

I like the look of it; very nice, Sir Ian.

[Sir James A]

Is this worn in addition to a gorget and/or aventail?  Looking at Sir Ian's avatar, I don't see how you'd ever notice the pisan under the helm and aventail.

Not with a gorget, as this is really a gorget in itself, just made of mail. But yes, they can be worn under the aventail, or with a sallet+bevor (for instance) in the 15th.

Yep. Question was asked and answered on the Book of Faces. Were Sir William there also to see it.....

[Don Jorge]

it seems a bit redundant if you have an aventail with a padded liner (that goes out beyond the helm itself). I can see how it would help protect against an attack where a simple aventail wouldnt work.

Not sure if you can see but this one has padding underneath it.


Basically if you have the right type of liner and sewed the end of the aventail to the liner like in the pic above, would you ever use a pisan?

[Sir Patrick]

Great work as always, Sir Ian. Feeling inspired...

[Thorsteinn]

At first I thought this was about something Italian from Pisa.

Then I saw da awesome.