WWI French Abdominal Armor with Tassets

A set of French body armor of the first World War, comprised of a curved upper plate to protect the soldier's stomach and abdomen, with three attached lower plates, called 'tassets', that were intended to protect the groin and thighs. The plates were covered with wool in the French army's 'horizon blue' color. The suspension strap on top of the upper, abdominal, plate is only partially intact. The upper plate still retains the front hooks which were intended to fasten on to the soldier's belt. One of the three tassets has separated from the abdominal plate to which it was originally attached. The fabric covering the plates has some holes in the front and back. This set of French armor is discussed and illustrated in the book 'Helmets and Body Armor in Modern Warfare' by Bashford Dean, Copyright 1977, pages 106-108. Page 107, illustrating this set of armor, is reproduced in this listing.