[Illustration:  Armor and Clay Models]

An open chamfron of the fifteenth century is shown in Fig. 1.  This piece of horse armor, which was used in front of a horse’s head, makes a splendid center for a shield on which are fixed the swords, etc., and is a good piece for the amateur armorer to try his hand on in the way of modeling in clay or papier mache work.  The opening for the animal to put his head into is semicircular, and the sides do not cover the jaws.  As the main part of this armor is worn in front of the head the extreme depth is about 4 in.  The entire head piece must be modeled in clay with the hands, after which it is covered with a thin and even coating of sweet or pure olive oil.  A day before making the clay model some pieces of thin, brown wrapping paper are torn in irregular shapes to the, size of the palm of the hand and put to soak in a basin of water in which a tablespoonful of size has been dissolved.  If size cannot be obtained from your local painter, a weak solution of glue will do equally well.  All being ready, and the clay model oiled, take up one piece of paper at a time and very carefully place it on the surface of the model, pressing it on well and into and around any crevices and patterns.  Continue this operation until the clay model is completely covered on every part.  This being done, give the paper a thin and even coating of glue, which must be quite hot and laid on as quickly as possible.  Lay on a second layer of paper as carefully as before, then another coat of glue, and so on until there are five or six coats of glue and paper.  When this is dry it will be strong enough for all ornamental purposes.  The ragged edges of the paper are trimmed off with a sharp knife and the whole surface smoothed with fine sandpaper.  Then carefully glue on sections of tinfoil to give the armor the appearance of steel.  The armor is now removed from the model.

A mitten gauntlet of the fifteenth century is shown in Fig. 2.  This can be made in one piece, with the exception of the thumb shield, which is separate.  The thumb shield is attached to the thumb of an old glove which is fastened with round headed nails on the inside of the gauntlet.

[Illustration:  Corrugated Breastplate and Former]

The part covering the wrist is a circular piece, but the back is not necessary, as it would not be seen when the gauntlet is hanging in its place.

In Fig. 3 is shown a gauntlet of the seventeenth century with separately articulated fingers.  This gauntlet may be molded in one piece, except the thumb and fingers, which must be made separately and fastened with the thumb shield to the leather glove that is attached to the inside of the gauntlet, the same as in Fig. 2.