10-04-2013, 01:38 PM
Two South American examples:
The armour which they use in war are certain loose garments like doublets made of quilted cotton, a finger and a half thick, and sometimes two fingers; they are very strong. Over them they wear a doublet and hose all one garment, which are corded behind. This garment is made of thick cloth and is covered with a layer of feathers of different colours, making a fine effect… for neither arrows nor darts pierce them, but are thrown back without making any wound, and even with swords it is difficult to penetrate through them.
-- Companion of Hernan Cortez
Out of sacking or light linen cloths they make a kind of surcoat that they call 'escaupil'. These fall below the knee, and sometimes to the calf. They are all stuffed with cotton, to the thickness of three fingers. The layers of cotton are quilted between folds of linen and sewed with rough thread…
-- Aguado, History of Venezuela
More:
There is a partial example of Greek linen armour that was found at Patras dating to the end of the Bronze Age. It hasn't been published yet but IIRC preliminary examination shows it to be made of 10-15 layers of linen.
The Victoria and Albert Museum has an 18th century cuirass from India (called a peti) made from multiple layers of quilted cotton and covered in green velvet. It is almost an inch thick. The Royal Armouries has another example from the arsenal of Tipu Sultan.
The Irish "Cattle Raid of Cooley" says that Cúchulainn was wearing armour made of 27 layers of linen and an apron made from the hide of yearling oxen.
I can't find even a hint of glue anywhere. We have over three thousand years of evidence telling us that textile armour was quilted.
The armour which they use in war are certain loose garments like doublets made of quilted cotton, a finger and a half thick, and sometimes two fingers; they are very strong. Over them they wear a doublet and hose all one garment, which are corded behind. This garment is made of thick cloth and is covered with a layer of feathers of different colours, making a fine effect… for neither arrows nor darts pierce them, but are thrown back without making any wound, and even with swords it is difficult to penetrate through them.
-- Companion of Hernan Cortez
Out of sacking or light linen cloths they make a kind of surcoat that they call 'escaupil'. These fall below the knee, and sometimes to the calf. They are all stuffed with cotton, to the thickness of three fingers. The layers of cotton are quilted between folds of linen and sewed with rough thread…
-- Aguado, History of Venezuela
More:
There is a partial example of Greek linen armour that was found at Patras dating to the end of the Bronze Age. It hasn't been published yet but IIRC preliminary examination shows it to be made of 10-15 layers of linen.
The Victoria and Albert Museum has an 18th century cuirass from India (called a peti) made from multiple layers of quilted cotton and covered in green velvet. It is almost an inch thick. The Royal Armouries has another example from the arsenal of Tipu Sultan.
The Irish "Cattle Raid of Cooley" says that Cúchulainn was wearing armour made of 27 layers of linen and an apron made from the hide of yearling oxen.
I can't find even a hint of glue anywhere. We have over three thousand years of evidence telling us that textile armour was quilted.
Author: Bronze Age Military Equipment, Pen & Sword Books
