A 17th-century breastplate - SOLD

A 17th-century breastplate, probably forming part of a pikeman's cuirass. This example has incised lines across its chest, an armory or maker's mark "M" and "E" at each shoulder, and an indistinguishable stamp at the collar.
 
There's a  median ridge running down the front, which projects to a form a blunt point over the flanges where the tassets would have attached. The edges of the arm-holes were formed by rolling the metal over a section of curved wire, and there are some signs that the metal is of laminate construction. Holes have been drilled through the chest near the suspension points for the shoulder straps in order to allow it to be mounted on a wall.
 
17th-century European armour is admittedly not my forte, and the possibility does exist that this is a 19th-century reproduction. Nevertheless, it is both clearly hand-crafted and not a 20th century reproduction, given the care with which the hooks for the shoulder straps have been shaped, for example.
 
Height from the base to the tops of the shoulders: 45 cm
Width across the base: 41 cm
Width across the shoulders: 28 cm
17th century