Catalogue of European Armour at the Fitzwilliam Museum (review)

This is a unique and splendid work. Mr. Ian Eaves accepted a private contract to write, through a special grant, an in-house catalogue for the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge, England. The book, as the title states, is arranged like a catalogue. Located roughly in the center of the book are thirty-six photographs of armour exhibits residing at the Fitzwilliam Museum. Each armour element within the photograph caption is designated with an accession number, object word description, location of fabrication and approximate year of manufacture. The extended exhibit descriptions form the body of the book and are arranged in chapters according to Whole Armours, Half Armours, Helmets, Parts Armour, and ending with Horse Armour. Great portions of the museum's collection represent German and North Italian field use armours of the sixteenth century.

The strength of the book resides in the written detail of the element armour descriptions. Each description starts with the Accession Number, which is in numerical order within each chapter. Thirteen headings organize the detail of each armour description: Object, Short Description, Nationality/Maker, Date, Full Description, Marks, Dimensions, Weight, Acquisition, Provenance, Publications, Other Records, and Illustrated (plate number).

Several element armour descriptions have no photographs in the book., for example the one and only armour classified under the Whole Armour category. Four illustrated armours that appear to be full armours are located in the half armour category. Plate numbers thirty-eight and forty appear within descriptions, but are not reflected in the actual thirty-six plate count. Plate pages are not included in the book's numerical order, so it is difficult to know if there are missing plates or errors in plate numbering. Mr. Eaves wrote all of the entries, but was not involved with ordering of the categories. The museum appears to have ordered the descriptions according to the original house records. Mr. Eaves, through correspondence, would have liked the opportunity to have ordered the pieces afresh. He also mentioned that he did not select the photographs or write the captions, which contain errors. One such error can be found on the last plate that labels an obviously closed helmet as a kettle hat.

Mr. Ian Eaves brought eighteen years of experience as the Keeper of Armour at the Royal Armouries at the Tower of London to his most methodical Full Descriptions heading. Every rivet, hinge, plate, crack, pitting, internal washer, decoration, internal lining, lames, etc., is carefully noted to provide an accurate assessment of the piece. Mr. Eaves writes in a clear and precise style, encapsulating great detail in economy of prose. This work will contribute greatly to the accurate preservation of historical armour and brings to the reader a sense of the splendor of the Fitzwilliam armour.

This work would be most enjoyed by museum curators and armour collectors. The book's lofty price is more than a novice should be expected to bear. Mr. Eaves is presently working on a similar project for the Metropolitan Museum of Greenwich in North American Collections and promises a lavish volume. He is also the current President of the Arms & Armour Society.