Category: Male clothing > arming garments

Padded armor from Morgan Bible

Padded armor from Morgan Bible

Century: XIII

CODE	Material	Standard ? × SPES products - technology & methods of manufacturing Machine-made standard - products with visible signs of using modern methods and tools in their production; e.g. visible outside and inside seams in clothing made with the use of a machine. Mixed standard - products with visible signs of using both modern and traditional methods and tools in their production; e.g. main, inside seams in clothing are made with the use of a machine while outside stitches and details are sewn by hand. Hand-made standard - goods with visible signs of using only traditional methods and tools in their production; e.g. all seams in clothing are sewn by hand. *NOTE. We always use high quality materials and fabrics while making our products - the above standards of their production are not related to the materials used.	Price
PMLR0173	Linen	Hand-made	420.00 EUR
PMLS0172	Linen	Mixed	230.00 EUR

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This piece of padded armor from the Morgan Bible is a type of medieval gambeson characterized by a simple design and universality. It is dedicated for reenactors of the early-medieval period. This type of aketon is put on over the head and closed with two tin buttons on the left side of the neck. Both inner and outer layers of this padded armor are made of linen.

A padded armor from Morgan Bible has a high collar reaching the chin. Its closure is placed on the side of the neck. This gambeson ends right over the knees and its whole surface is quilted with vertical stitchings.

The lower part of Morgan Bible padded armor has cutouts reaching the crotch at the front and at the back. The bases of the cuts are strengthened with leather triangles. Such a solution makes this aketon more convenient and not hindering the movements of the wearer.

The particular areas of the padded armor from Morgan Bible have different levels of thickness:
↪ torso - Y2
↪ sleeves - Y1
↪ strengthening on shoulders and elbows - Y2
↪ collar - Y1

You can change the level of thickness of this padded armor. If you are interested in such an option, please contact our Sales Department before placing an order. More information here.

You can also choose one of various colors available for this aketon inspired by Morgan Bible. The color chart can be found here!

This padded armor is available in standard size set - XS to XXL. For an extra charge (20% of the price), you can order a customized aketon matching your individual measurements. To choose your size, follow the chart below:

Size	Chest girth	Waist girth	Hips girth	Height
XS	84-92 cm	72-80 cm	88-96 cm	164-170 cm
S	92-100 cm	80-88 cm	96-104 cm	170-176 cm
M	100-108 cm	88-96 cm	104-112 cm	176-182 cm
L	108-116 cm	96-104 cm	112-120 cm	182-188 cm
XL	116-124 cm	104-112 cm	120-128 cm	188-194 cm
XXL	124-132 cm	112-120 cm	128-136 cm	194-200 cm
Custom	Individual measurements. Price + 20%.

Please write the chosen size in the additional information box.

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Morgan Bible - the inspiration for our aketon

In the process of creating this model we were inspired by padded armors from the pages of the so-called Morgan Bible. Just like the gambeson from this famous codex, our padded armor has a high collar closed on the side of the neck with two buttons. A cutout of this gambeson, also visible on the source, is a bit longer to increase the comfort of wearing. Its sleeves are simplified in comparison to the historical pattern while the quilting remains exactly the same.
Despite minor changes, we can easily say that our padded armor is based on the examples taken from this 13th century piece of art.

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Characteristics of this Morgan Bible gambeson?

↪ thicker than regular gambeson
↪ significantly longer than standard gambesons
↪ based on depicturing of a knight from Morgan Bible
↪ characteristic for the times of 13th century
↪ super protective, especially when combined with a chainmail
↪ closed with two buttons on the side of the collar
↪ cutout in front and back eases walking and horse riding

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What is the Morgan Bible?

A unique work which makes a great source for the research on civil clothing and aketons of the 13th century. This richly illustrated codex presents biblical events from Genesis to 1 Kings and the lordship of David.

283 illustrations document numerous examples of medieval clothing, both of civil and arming design, including gambesons. An interesting fact is that fighting scenes are clearer and more precisely illuminated than the scenes from everyday routine.

Illustrations in Morgan Bible are arranged in a number of 4 on each page in a thoughtful way. It is aimed to intensify the didactic role of a manuscript - struggle of good against evil, of what should and should not be done. It was a quite popular way of presenting a story in former biblical codices.

The manuscript has a few titles which can be used synonymously. We use Maciejewski Bible but one can also call it Shah Abbas Bible, the Crusader Bible or the Morgan Bible. This unique codex was created for Louis IX of France at the end of the 13th century. Source is stored in New York, in the Morgan Library and Museum.

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Quilted tunic in the Middle Ages

Quilted tunic is a very broad term but often used with Early-medieval and later padded armor of loose-cut which are put on through the head. It applies to material findings and former iconography. The basic and probably most important source with various depictions of quilted tunics is The Morgan Bible, dated to the 13th century. It was our main source of inspiration while making the Early-medieval aketons.
This type of padded armor was worn during battles and medieval tournaments together with other arming garments, e.g. a chain mail. Sometimes, to increase the level of protection, users stitched chain mail pieces between the layers of quilted tunics.
Later, long gambesons have undergone numerous changes. They started to be more fitted to body shape, closed with buttons or straps. These modifications have made a traditional quilted tunic look like a relic of the past but also as a symbol of their times. Among aketons, quilted clothing includes bonnets, hoods, legs, gloves, shin guards, and pants.

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The upgrading of SPES gambesons design

Currently, we are working on implementing to our assortment the upgraded versions of our well-known gambesons. Changes include:
- improving the functionality and mobility of our aketons
- layers’ thickness (check the chart with levels of amortization)
- directions and shape of stitchings
- minor changes in cut (for better fitting)
- and most of all, matching the gambesons to our six-levels size set: XS-XXL (NOTE: you can still order a custom-sized gambeson)

Therefore, you can be sure that upgraded SPES gambesons are even better suited to your needs. And if you have any questions about mentioned changes in any model, contact us - we will dispel the doubts!

To make each gambeson stand out even more, we gave them unique names. From now, TYPE 5 is named Padded armor from Morgan Bible.