Miniature Armour

My miniature armour is made in exactly the same way as the full size armour of the period, i.e., completely hand forged, both hot and cold, from flat steel using many iron anvil stakes, Bichorns, hammers, files, punches and hollowed tree stumps. The making and assembly of my miniatures do not incorporate any modern pressed or moulded parts whatsoever, and each miniature remains absolutely weld free.

I have am so meticulous in the construction of this armour, even the helmet skulls are raised from one piece, not constructed of two halves as modern imported reproductions often are. Each shoulder harness also incorporates the typical six moving plates (depending on the particular armour of course). This offers full rotation from waist to overhead. This is often more articulation than some of the wearable reproduction armour I regularly see for sale.

As you will see from the internal pic, even when certain lames can’t be seen when the armour is standing, such as Pauldron, Couter and Poleyn lames, the correct articulation is still in place. The detail photograph, shows the correct four lame Poleyn articulation in place, each lame with the perfect orbit, and gliding perfectly from standing to squat position. The same photograph shows the rear Greave plate being tried for size, this notoriously difficult to shape plate is very rarely seen on reproduction armour, presumably because the armour is designed to stand flat against a wall and not invite close inspection.

My miniature armour is made from many different gauges of steel, predominantly 0.8mm as a starting sheet gauge throughout, but as with the Solerettes, Sabatons & Gauntlets, often 0.6mm &  0.4mm steel is used for the smaller more intricately articulated pieces. Each miniature is typically composed of over 60 separately forged steel plates, and over 140 hand-made iron and brass rivets. Once I am satisfied that each plate is the correct shape, and it works perfectly with its neighbouring plate, each riveted piece is then heated and slack-quenched to provide uniform hardness and temper, which ultimately results in a superior and fluid articulation, requiring no force at all.

Each piece articulates perfectly with its own weight alone, just like full size armour of the period did the day it was made.

Each of my fully articulated miniatures typically weigh 300 to 400 grams without the stand, base or weapon. Each miniature typically stands approximately 10 ½”  tall in its own right i.e, not including the stand, which makes them approximately 1/6th scale. Why 1/6th scale? Simply because this is the smallest I can make them with working articulation, but I am happy to make them to any scale at all, all you have to do is ask.

Each armour comes numbered and marked, and comes complete with steel stand and oak base. When not on display or when in transit, each of my standard scale 1/6th miniatures armour can be undressed and packed safely in its own Baize lined wooden case, this is included with each armour. A perfect gift for the collector who thought he had everything.

I have a very extensive reference library here, so finding a picture or painting of the best example of what you have in mind won’t be a difficult.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions or requests at all, whether it be for full size armour for wear or display, a study in miniature, a single helmet, or all the kings men, I welcome any challenge or restoration. Just click on my contact page, and I will do the rest.

Click here for my contact page

Thank you for your interest, I look forward to our talking in the future.
Nigel Carren

“This is truly remarkable, the detail and skill to create something so intricate and small is astounding… Well done you!”
Andrew Norman,   Rockingham Castle

“You are the most excellent artist with profound knowledge and skills, I am so excited to have found you”.
Tazio Kimura,  Private collector

“To call Nigel’s work reproduction armour would be accurate, but would miss the point however. His pieces are truly works of art, and Nigel’s encyclopaedic knowledge of his craft is manifest in his work”.
Jeremy Wilton, The Four Shires Magazine

“We think this commission will be an investment”.
Bob & Gloria Long ,    Private collectors

Anything at all can be recreated, it’s all quite simply down to time, and therefore ultimately your budget. All I need are a few clues re; period, style and finish and whether the piece is for wear or display, and I will happily do the rest, and trawl through my extensive library and provide images of exactly what it is I think you are aiming for, and as the famous quote by King Maximillian I to his armourer (below) clearly illustrates, I am at your disposal.

“Arm me according to my own wishes, for it is I not you who will take part in the tournament!”
King Maximillian I  to court armourer Conrad Seusenhofer 1504

My method statement is best illustrated by a quote by the greatest writer on the subject:

“For the study of ancient armour to be successfully pursued, it is of primary importance that a careful examination be made of every existing specimen within our reach… Every rivet-hole and rivet in a piece must be studied, and its use and object thought out”.
Charles Ffoulkes  1909