See more at Wikipedia.org...

Hoops of steel used to defend the hips, abdomen and lower back; attached to a a breastplate . Tassets extended downwards to protect the lower hips. Taken together with the breast and backplates, they formed the cuirass or body defense of the 14th and 15th century. During the 14th century faulds were sometimes covered in cloth using many rivets , or sometimes to leather. The practice was continued into the 15th century with increasing rarity.

See more at Wikipedia.org...

Hoops of steel used to defend the hips, abdomen and lower back; attached to a a breastplate . Tassets extended downwards to protect the lower hips. Taken together with the breast and backplates, they formed the cuirass or body defense of the 14th and 15th century. During the 14th century faulds were sometimes covered in cloth using many rivets , or sometimes to leather. The practice was continued into the 15th century with increasing rarity.