A COMPOSITE SOUTH GERMAN FALLING BUFFE, MID-16TH CENTURY formed of four plates overlapping outwards from the third which is strongly shaped to the point of the chin and flanged outwards at it lower edge to receive an articulated gorget-plate pierced at its outer ends with holes for the attachment of at least one more such plate, fitted within its upper edge with the stub of a central nasal-bar and overlain by two articulated face-plates each supported at its right side by a projecting spring-catch (the upper one restored) pierced at each side with a pair of circular ventilation holes, and rising to a chevron-shaped upper edge formed in the case of that of the uppermost plate with a notched inward turn bordered by a pair of later, stepped vision-slits (the lower face-plate with a small rust-perforation at its centre) 25.1 cm; 10 in Provenance Sixth Count of Asalto, Guadamur Castle, near Toledo, circa 1887 Ambrose Monell, Tuxedo Park, New York, before 1911 Henry Furmage, London George F. Harding Jr, Chicago, purchased 1927 Transferred to the Art Institute of Chicago, 1982, Acc. No. 1982.2220