Art Institute of Chicago

Field Armor

German, AugsburgLinkedCulture matchlcp-eb80b8d29b57

Date: 1510/70
Medium: Steel and leather
Culture: Augsburg
Department: Applied Arts of Europe
Institution: Art Institute of Chicago
Object ID: 106195

From the Art Institute of Chicago record

Skillfully forged of steel, this composite armor achieves its beauty with the simple elegance of its austere lines and form rather than its surface decoration. The armor was expertly crafted for protection: the smooth, rounded shape, breastplate, and heavy roping (turned edge etched with lines) at the upper edge of the breastplate functioned to deflect sword thrusts and glancing blows. Thick roping on the gauntlet knuckles acted as added protection. The helmet, with its smooth, rounded form, was shaped to deflect downward blows away from the head. The bracket attached to the right breastplate is called the lance rest, a shock-absorbing support designed to hold the lance when it was couched under the right armpit.

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Provenance & credit

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Credit line: George F. Harding Collection

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Object type: AAT300209266

Part of a LinkedCulture topic

European Renaissance Armor Components
These objects are all pieces of defensive armor and military equipment from 15th-17th century Europe, primarily from major armoring centers like Italy, Germany, and France.
500 objects from 4 institutions