This is the earliest dated armor from the royal workshops at
Greenwich, which were established in 1515 by Henry VIII (reigned
1509–47) to produce armors for himself and his court. It is also
the earliest surviving Greenwich garniture, an armor made with a
series of exchange and reinforcing pieces by which it could be
adapted for use in battle and in different forms of the
tournament. Furthermore, the overall etching and gilding place
it among the most richly decorated of all Greenwich armors. The
design of the decoration is attributed to the German-born Swiss
artist Hans Holbein the Younger (1497–1543), who worked at the
English court from 1526 to 1528.The surviving exchange elements
of this armor are a reinforcing breastplate with lance rest for
use in the field or in the mounted tournament with lances; a
left-hand gauntlet reinforce, or manifer, also used in the
tournament with lances; and a right-hand locking gauntlet for
the mounted tournament with swords.A highly unusual and
innovative feature is the ven