It isn’t a proper stately home without some old armour lying around somewhere. This pair of Civil War breastplates, each mounted with a lobster-tail helmet and a pair of crossed swords, will look great on either side of the fireplace in the Dining Room. Made by the late artisan John Hodgson, who is better known for his stupendous furniture, these breastplates come from the estate of miniature-maker Stan Dickinson and his wife Barbara Kinghorn-Dickinson. I bought them from Barbara’s son Chris, who was disposing of most of their collection. These are beautiful objects: not only perfect in spirit, but solidly made: they have quite a heft to them.
Artisan: John Hodgson
Intended Room: Dining Room
Dimensions: 75 x 60 x 17 mm; 3 x 2 ¼ x ½ inches (each) (height x width x depth)
Inventory numbers: 2021.101 A and B
Quartermaine Hall 
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