Rick, its always good to hear from ya!!! Instant images of the 'Highlander' scenes!
This is phenomenal, and adds new dimension to this perplexing dilemma of these leather armors. This newly found example is incredibly exciting, though truly throwing a curve into the conclusions earlier drawn toward the example that I presented in beginning this thread.
The problem here is with the character of these armors both having these key decorative elements, however the fact that this example has cataphract or lamellar scales layered. Our original example posted is of cuir boulli (boiled leather) with designs tooled into the leather.
The designs using the skirted tassets are similar, the triangular element in the position of a gorget at the chest is compellingly the same.
Most importantly, as with the armor of the original post, this example is side vented, opening at the side rather than frontally opened as typically seen on Filipino examples.
Our strongest evidence for this type of cuirass comes from the remarkable Seggeser paintings, held in the Museum of the Governors in Santa Fe, which record the obscure 'Villasur massacre' in Nebraska in 1720. These are three panels on buffalo fide painted by a Pueblo artist shortly after the event, and had been unknown until 1980s, when they were returned to the US from Switzerland. As they are the single reference which depicts this type of armor, the had not been included in any of the few published materials on Spanish colonial arms and armor.
In these paintings, the Pueblo allies who were with Villasurs forces, are wearing this unusual style of tasseted armor in contrast to the Spanish men who are wearing 'cuera' (a long rawhide coat). Importantly, the artist deemed it important to detail the 'triskela' like device which seems to have been a symbol, which is present on these leather cuirasses worn by the Pueblo's.
The remarkable detail including these kinds of features suggests that the unknown artist was either a survivor of the event, or worked under the guidance of one. In any case, these features of the armor were clearly known in the Santa Fe context by the 1720s.
Another telling feature on the original example is that it is constructed of cuir boulli, which was the boiled leather method which had long been used in Europe and back to ancient times. Typically, the 'cuera' type coats or jackets were of layered rawhide sewn together.
When Santa Fe fell in the Pueblo uprisings in the 1690s, the governor and many citizens fled to regions near El Paso. Later, as the governor assembled forces to retake Santa Fe, including many loyal Pueblos, he ordered them to fashion leather armor, but 'in the old way' (thus cuir boulli). This process had of course long been known to Indian tribes with their fashioning of various items requiring that durability.
It would appear the production of this type armor had become inherently unique to Santa Fe and the Pueblo loyal to the Spaniards. These men were taught and converted to the Catholic Faith, but were familiar with the baroque styling and features in the art. In this manner, clearly these themes were carried into these traditionally styled armors.
Having established these things, and with the illustrations with provenance set in Santa Fe of post 1720, we are compelled to note the originally posted cuir boulli cuirass as of that context in that period, and while of Pueblo workmanship, under effectively Spanish origin.
Now, coming to this newly found example, it is of the same fashion as our original, and with compelling elements of design and decoration, including the important side venting, the single contrary element would be the RATTAN bindings. This is clearly not a material which would have been available, nor used in the contexts of the Spanish southwest.
At this point the only explanation which might accommodate the comparison of these two examples would be that examples of these early 18th century cuirasses from the Santa Fe contexts, may have traveled via the trade networks into other colonial areas.
In fact, our original example is now known to have been found in California years ago, suggesting the presence of these there. This was of course the key location for the 'Manila galleons' commerce, and naturally, the movement of goods was reciprocal . It would seem likely that these armors would be copied by Filipino craftsmen in the Spanish regions of the Philippines, and these would follow Spanish design. While the Moros did of course follow Spanish design nominally (even to combed morions) they followed also the more commonly known frontal opening armor with mail.
So I guess, as I have done briefly (LOL! NOT!) I would say this is likely a Filipino version of the Spanish (Pueblo) design, secured by the fact that the rattan is not a material available nor used in the Spanish southwest. It would likely be of 19th century, possibly early, but these things are better determined hands on.
Thank you so much Rick!!!!
All very best
Jim