Illustrations of Sassanid Persian Clibanarii

[Dan Howard]

The char aina armour of 17th-19th centuries was worn over mail:

http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/736x/9...d329b7.jpg

The girdle of plates shown above is somewhat reminiscent of the Dura graffito, to my mind.

Early in the evolution of plate armour in Medieval Europe c. 1280- 1330 both the 'coat of plates' and limb armour, such as polyns, were worn over mail.

The practice was common in the Middle Ages, starting around the 12th century. Find an example before this time.