Thickness Mapping of Body Armour: a Comparative Study of Eight Breastplates from the National Museum of Slovenia

Abstract

There is relatively little information available on the weight and thickness of historical plate armour. The purpose of the present study is to present a detailed analysis of eight torso defences from the National Museum of Slovenia dating from the early 16th to the mid-19th century. Each artefact has been measured in detail and its thickness mapping is presented in graphical diagrams. Furthermore, 3D modelling has been used experimentally to estimate the height of individuals expected to wear the armour. The results illustrate important ideas of armour design during the Middle Ages and the early Modern Period, especially with regard to the increasing effectiveness of firearms.