Italian Russet Half Armour

This was infantry parade armour but would also have been used in a kind of  tournament which was fought on foot over a barrier using blunt spears and swords.  When worn  for tournaments a close helmet would have been used instead of the open morion. This half armour consists of an open-faced helmet, cuirass (breast and back plates), thigh defences (tassets) and complete arm defences.  The gorget and gauntlets are missing.  There is a castle etched on the breastplate just below the neck, it is probably the mark of a Milanese armourer.  This kind of open-faced helmet was known as a 'Spanish morion'.