WWI Era Steel Plate With Mounting Brackets

WWI Era Steel Plate With Mounting Brackets

4.04mm (5/32") thick rectangular concave profile steel plate is roughly square - 23mm (9-1/8") tall and wide, with clipped corners at the top, fitted with brown leather billet straps that appear to be set up to pass over the user's shoulders, cross at the back, and are then secured to short buckle straps fitted to either side at the base with roller buckles.  Steel plate retains a portion of black painted finish blending with dark oxidized patina overall.  Interior is fitted with a brown leather cushion.  No visible markings.  It has two rectangular mounting brackets attached to the upper center portion. I did not find this in Bashford Dean's reference.  My initial thought was that it might be Italian.  Our consignor believes it to be a part of French WWI engineering equipment. 

$100 - $200