Medieval Gambeson White

Medieval gambeson 14th century

Worn under breastplace (cuirass) or separately.

A gambeson (or aketon or padded jack or arming doublet) is a padded defensive jacket, worn as armour separately, or combined with mail or plate armour. Gambeson were produced with a sewing technique called quilting. Usually constructed of linen or wool, the stuffing varied, and could be for example scrap cloth or horse hair. During the 14th century, illustrations usually show buttons or laces up the front.

An arming doublet (also called aketon) worn under armour, particularly plate armour of fifteenth and sixteenth century Europe contains arming points for attaching plates and fifteenth century examples may include goussets sewn into the elbows and armpits to protect the wearer in locations not covered by plate. German gothic armour arming doublets were generally shorter than Italian white armour doublets, which could extend to the upper thigh. In late fifteenth century Italy this also became a civilian fashion. Men who were not knights wore arming doublets, probably because the garment suggested status and chivalry.

This gambeson is constructed from thick quilted cotton and is fastened close with cloth buttons on the front and sleeve cuffs. The interior of the gambeson is padded with organic cotton felt - a material that will breath better than the poly-fill commonly used on many other production gambesons.

Medieval armor