Art Institute of Chicago

Parrying Gauntlet

Italian

Date

1550/1575

Medium

Steel, iron, linen textile, and leather

Culture

Italy

Department

Applied Arts of Europe

Institution

Art Institute of Chicago

In rapier combat, various techniques called for left-handed daggers, shields, or bucklers to parry (ward off) or bind an opponent’s blade. Another such device that became popular among fencing masters and duelists was the fencing gauntlet. Unlike gauntlets used in field armor, fencing gauntlets featured palms that were covered in fine mail, a mesh of steel rings that permitted the wearer to push aside or grab his attacker’s sword blade. Dents and cuts on the cuff of this example indicate that it was indeed used.

The authoritative record is held by Art Institute of Chicago. LinkedCulture surfaces this object and its connections; it does not alter institutional metadata.