If neccessity is the mother of invention, then the Cuirasse is her red-headed stepchild. Made from what appeared to be just about whatever was lying about the blacksmith's shop, this German device (with a French name) was formed from a breastplate of armor surrounded by three or four locking metal bands. A prisoner would be locked tightly into the bands with his arms straight at his side. The Cuirasse prevented all but the most basic of movements and sitting was near impossible - a few days of confinement without any kind of rest was all it took for many to lose their minds.