Product description
The pourpoint of Charles de Blois is currently housed in the Musée des Tissus et des Arts Décoratifs in Lyon, France. It is one of the best-preserved surviving garments from the 14th century. The preserved garment was an arming jacket, made of layers of fabric that were stitched together. It had 70 buttons that fastened the front and the sleeves. The sleeves were made of multiple pieces of fabric, including special finishing around the shoulder and armhole, known as "grande assiette" sleeves, which allowed the wearer to move their arms freely and easily.
The pourpoint was a garment worn by nobility in the late 14th century, both in civilian and military situations. It marked an important change in Western fashion, as it led to a shift from the rectangular silhouettes of ancient and medieval clothing to the more refined clothing of the modern period, which began to develop in the 15th century. The pourpoint was originally conceived as a military garment, cutting in at the waist to prepare the body for the breastplate armour, which rested between the ribs and the pelvis. This ensured that the weight of the armour was transferred from the shoulders to the hips.
Instead of bearing the weight of the armour on their shoulders, late medieval knights chose to distribute the weight of their armour across their bodies. Eventually, this garment was also worn by nobles in their daily life as outer clothing (over the tunic), replacing the tunic.
This pourpoint is perfect for 14th century medieval reenactment and can be worn under armour. It is a replica of the original. This pourpoint is made of 100% Baltic linen (220 gsm) with a lining of 100% canvas cotton.
