A rare pair of arm defences dating: circa 1700 provenance: Poland or Russia, Both featuring an iron vambrace protection plate with remains of engraving, of elongated and convex shape, provided with buckles and a brass, 'L'-shaped plate at the wrist engraved with leaves and scrolls. Both plates are provided with a wrist clasp consisting of two engraved iron bands held by a mesh of iron rings with a riveted closure. Plates decorated with brass mounts en suite. The external plate is provided with small buckles that can be connected to those on the main plate by a strap (not available). Two small restorations made at the time of use, one with a niello-silver plate. Origin: either Polish or Tatar. See similar arm defences in 'Tartar Arms and Armour - Bron I Uzbrojenie Tatarow' by Jacek Gutowski, Warszawa 1997. Numbers 43-47 are comparable to the one presented in our auction, with iron plates decorated by brass plates. length 30 cm.