for the couching of the lance; but the cavity thus formed could at pleasure be guarded by an additional detached plate, seen in the illustration and fastened by a small turning pin.
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Fig. 215. Portion of a suit of armour of the Tomaso da Missaglia type, about 1460-70
B 19, Royal Armoury, Turin
The elbow cops and mitten gauntlets are very similar to those we have noted on the Dino suit.
Having considered those four Italian harnesses, three at least of which we may accept as belonging to about 1450-60, and which are in all probability the work of Tomaso da Missaglia, we will give an illustration of that most knightly suit to be seen in the Imperial Armoury of Vienna, a suit accredited to the famous Robert of San Severino of Naples, and Count of Gajazzo, 1418-87 (Fig. 216). This gracefully formed caparison is the work of Tomaso's son, Antonio da Missaglia, or to give him the honour of his full name, Antonio da Missaglia da Ella. Indeed, save for the salade helmet that has at some early date been associated with it, it is a true suit in every sense of the word, plate made for plate, and is to be regarded as one harmonious whole, a suit of armour made entirely by one hand. In several places are stamped the armourer's mark made use of to the best of our belief by Antonio da Missaglia. How cleverly has the son followed his father's constructional methods in making this suit, save that he has given its outline a more pleasing turn! Mark the graceful elegance of the waist line, the exquisite modelling of the jambs, and the fine proportions of the suit as a whole. There is nothing
