The gorget was originally used as armor to protect the throat and chest, often indicating the rank of military officers. It became obsolete by the end of the 18th century but has recently been revived as an ornamental necklace or throat patch. It has also been used in fashion and as protective gear for sports.
Originally worn by military officers in the 17th and 18th centuries, the gorget was armor specifically designed to protect the throat and upper chest. Usually made of steel, this collar was used to combat injuries from non-projectile weapons such as swords and spears. It was common for this piece to contain an emblem or demarcation that signified the position or rank of the wearer. Often the gorget was the only indicator of a military officer’s rank. The Indians wore them as well as a testament to their place within the tribe.
Gorges were worn over chain mail that reached to the neck line. Hung from a chain around the neck, some featured detachable leather straps. From these straps, pouldrons could be attached, offering upper arm and shoulder protection. This practice was common when full armor was worn.
By the end of the 18th century, the use of a gorget for protection became obsolete. The English first abandoned the practice, followed by the French two decades later, and it was the Germans who remained the last to resist, with many members of the Nazi party continuing to favor them. It was at this time that he became very much a figurative representative of the stature achieved within the party. During this century, the piece was used primarily to indicate when an officer was on active duty, establishing his rank on site.
The use of the gorget has recently been revived. Both the US Army and Navy have incorporated the device into stated uniform. It is now mainly worn as an ornamental necklace or a colored throat patch.
As a decorative and functional necklace, gorgets have also been worn by women throughout the centuries. While part of the fashion of the days, its distinctive purpose was to hide the visible signs of aging that are easily noticeable on the delicate skin of a woman’s throat, neck, and chest. They were worn more and were used for more décolletage coverage and would be better described as the scarf-like part of a pimple.
More recently, the gorget has been used in Gothic dress and clothing, for both men and women. These fashion accessories are often made of leather, lace, feathers, or rubber and are often found in black. When not part of fashionable apparel, a type of gorget is worn by paintball players, motorcyclists, ATV drivers, and sport trekking bikers as protective gear.
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