cuirassier:

Russian lancers of Chuguevskii regiment

1 - officer

2,3 - privates

According to the “Institution of the management of big armies” which came in power in the early 1812, the soldiers who were serving in the Convoy of the Headquaters were meant to wear a green twig ( the sort of tree was not specified)  as a part of their uniform. In the autumn of 1812 the commander of Chuguevski regiment was in the Convoy Headquaters of the 3rd Western army so his officers and soldiers had green twigs on their schapkas.

The second private (3) is wearing the pre-1812 uniform.

The painting is made by Averyanov.

hard-sophoclean-light:

Waistcoat Corselet (torso defense) with Pauldrons (shoulder defenses), for use in combat on ship. Germany, 1571. 

This corselet is the only surviving armor in the world identified as having been made in Cologne—a leading center of armor production in Europe. Its construction, which imitates a civilian waistcoat, and the composition of its etched ornamentation suggest some of the stylistic influences from Italian armor that often passed through Cologne on the way to England and the Low Countries.

Philadelphia Museum Art

Special armor for ship combat is not something I have ever seen — cherish it, guys. And also note the crucifix next to the armorer’s stamp. *tears for Cologne*. 

tribbletroubles:

Barding is armour for horses.The champron (also spelled champion, chamfron, chamfrein, and shaffron) was designed to protect the horse’s face. Sometimes this included hinged cheek plates. A decorative feature common to many champrons is a rondel with a small spike.

The champron originated in ancient Greece, but vanished from use until the twelfth century when metal plates replaced boiled leather as protection for war horses. The basic design of the champron remained stable until it became obsolete in the seventeenth century, although late examples are often notable for engraved decoration. A champron extended from the horse’s ears to its muzzle. Flanges often covered the eyes. In an open champron, the eyes received no protection. Hinged extensions to cover the jowls were commonly used for jousting tournaments. The photo is of a champron made in Italy in the early 1500s. (source)

nine-reeds:

Kòmò Helmet Mask (Kòmòkun), 19th–mid-20th century. Guinea or Mali or Burkina Faso or Côte d’Ivoire, West Africa.

Kòmò associations create helmet masks like this one that awe audiences and reflect members’ great power and knowledge. Kòmò is one of the most widespread and revered power associations across West Africa. Local chapters in the region cultivate knowledge of flora and fauna and develop the capacity to harness spiritual energy in order to counteract malevolence and help people in their daily lives. The helmet masks kòmò associations sponsor are enhanced over time as leaders expand their knowledge.

nine-reeds:

Backplate and Hoguine. 1525
German.

Heheh. Butt armor.

justamus:

A rare vintage photograph of an onna-bugeisha, one of the female warriors of the upper social classes in feudal Japan.

Often mistakenly referred to as “female samurai”, female warriors have a long history in Japan, beginning long before samurai emerged as a warrior class.

collective-history:

Buronet Helmet and Reinforce for a Field Breastplate of Emperor Maximilian II ca. 1549

This triple-crested helmet and outer breastplate are from a splendid garniture made for Archduke Maximilian of Austria (1527-76), son of Holy Roman Emperor Ferdinand I, and himself a future emperor.

These pieces are for the field-the battlefield or the joust. Commissioned from the famous German armor maker Mattheus Frauenpreiss, this garniture exhibits the restrained magnificence appropriate to Maximilian’s status. The reinforcing breastplate consists of two plates that overlap vertically to allow movement. Fitted over the normal breastplate, it provided extra protection in combat. The decoration, consisting of bands with animals and trophies, was etched and gilded by Jörg Sorg.