The best indicator for the date of a 16th cent. armour is the form of the breastplate. In the first 30 years it is plain with a central ridge in Italy and globular without a ridge in Germany. About 1530 the Italian Breast becomes egg-shaped. In the same time the German breast is vaulted with a sharp ridge. From the fifties on the Italian and German breastplates are looking similar. They have cylindrical form about 1550. About 1560 they are like the body of a wasp. In 1570 the middle ridge has a noselike end (Sackbrust) and in 1580 the breast goes down in a pointed angle till the shrit (Gansbauch), but in 1590 the breast is short again. In the first quarter of the century in Germany three types of armour existed: plain armour in the Italian fashion, fluted armour (Riefelharnische) and "Kostumharnische", imitating the dress of the Landesknechts. In the second quarter types of armour were established. Armour in the old fashion with stiff cuishes were called "Kuriss", armour with articulated cuishes "Feldkuriss" and armour with laminated cuishes, connecting from the waist to the knees, "Fusskuriss". It was very popular in western Europe and became the leading type of the 17th century. The "Harnasch" was a half armour without Lancerest for infantry officers. The " Tornament", a simulated battle in two groups with lances and swords, were executed in field armour, but reinforced with a bevor, a dubble breast and reinforced pieces on left shoulder, left elbow and left gauntlet. This outfit remained through the century. In the Netherlands and Germany another equipment was in use, consisting of a close helmet, a great iron shield with attached stiff bevor, a great guard for the left arm and a reinforced left gauntlet. This tournament equipment has been adopted in Italy, France and England for the tilt. The "Tilt" was a combat of two knights on horseback with lances, separated by a barrier. In Germany and Spain the knights used for the tilt a stiff elbow and a heavy stiff gauntlet. About the middle of the century the "foot tornament" became fashionable, a combat of two groups at foot, fighting with lances and swords over a barrier. They used half armours without lancerest, closed helmets, bevor and broad shoulders. After 1570 the bevor was replaced by a lame fixed to the helmet and the broad right shoulder by a small one, protected by an upstanding guard of the breast. About 1530 the knights wanted to have an armour, which could be converted for all purposes, for field, tornament and tilt. Many changing pieces for the armour (Doppelstucke) have been delivered. This unit is the "Harnischgarnitur". After 1570 the changing pieces disappeared and for every purpose a complete extra armour has been mad (Reihengarnitur.) Many armours had an etched decoration. In the first time in Italy appeared mostly small bands with spiked leaves or other simple ornaments. The German armour was decorated with broad bands, filled with foliages and trophies. The German etching influenced the Italians soon. About 1540 there was a short mode of small bands, but in 1550 the broad bands returned. The main pattern about 1560 were running scroled foliages. In Italy appeared a second pattern with little trophies. In 1570 one like a pattern of knotwork and little figures in oval frames. The bands were augmented and in 1580 there were only small straps between the trophy bands of Italian armour. In 1590 the armour was completely covered with different etched patterns. Under the reign of Francis I and Henry II of France there was a hightime of embossed armour.
