Art Institute of Chicago

Jousting Shield (Stecktarge) with the Coat of Arms of the City of Deggendorf

South German; Bavaria

Date

1450/60

Medium

Wood, iron, leather, canvas, gesso, and paint

Culture

Saxony

Department

Applied Arts of Europe

Institution

Art Institute of Chicago

This large curved rectangular shield was developed especially for use with a lance. The jouster rested his lance in the cutout opening on the proper right, called a bouche or mouth. Such shields had been common in war, but by the mid-15th century they functioned more often in jousting, as targets. After tournaments these were frequently hung in homes or in public places to celebrate a noble family or, as in this case, a city.

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