A Composite English Pikeman's Armour Circa 1640Of blackened iron, comprising a pot helmet with two-piece rounded skull with low turned comb, the base of the skull with a row of dome-headed rivets between incised lines, the downturned brim with recessed turned border with rivets en suite and struck with the mark of the London Armourer's Company, crowned 'IR' mark (James II armoury mark) and maker's initials 'F' of John Frankling (some rivets missing, peaks damaged), gorget of two plates each with turned borders, the front plate with maker's mark 'WC' of William Crouch, breast-plate with medial ridge drawn-out to a point above the skirt, turned and gilt at the line engraved neck and arms, and struck beneath the former with maker's mark 'ID', possibly of John Dawston, together with a further crowned 'IR' arsenal mark, back-plate shaped to the back and also struck with crowned 'IR' mark, rectangular tassets each of six simulated upward-lapping lames and with turned gilt borders, riveted hinges, and two pivot-hook and pin catches for later adjustable shoulder-straps reinforced with riveted plates: on an adjustable wooden stand mounted on a black painted wooden plinthFootnotes:ProvenanceH.M. Tower of LondonTiverton Castle, Sotheby's Summers Place, Antique Arms and Armour, 7 December 1998, lot 3011A number of similar armours with contemporary munition finish and gold painted borders and rivets are in the Royal Armouries, Leeds. For further information regarding the makers and their marks see Thom Richardson, The London Armourers Of The 17th Century, 2004, passim