Donated European, WWI Body Armor Breastplate

Original era manufacture. Heavy gauge steel plate which is curved to fit chest, with shoulder strap cut-outs in each upper corner, and additional cut-outs on the lower side edges for a waistbelt. Passing through these cut-outs is set of thin russet leather straps with attaching buckles. I looked through Bashord Dean's book, 'Helmets and Body Armor in Modern Warfare', and the closest example I could find there was a British model. A well respected, longtime WWI collector referred to it as Italian.In either case, the darn thing is quite heavy and about 4 mm in thickness. The straps are sound, unbroken, but a bit dry. Donated to Fort Tuthill Military Museum, 2446 Fort Tuthill Loop Rd, Flagstaff, AZ 86005 on September 7, 2018