Gothic Fan-Shaped Pauldron (right)

From the Cleveland Museum of Art record

When the elements that made up a suit of armor had been forged, shaped, and polished, they were inspected for fit and finish. At this stage the master armorer would use a punch to stamp each element with his maker's mark. Other associated marks might include a town or guild mark, depending on the city of origin. The set of three marks shown here are of a type known to be Milanese. The upper mark seems to show three letters beneath a crown, while the mark below, twice repeated, is a split cross with the letters inside. These probably refer to the Missaglias. A pauldron is a component of plate armor that covers the shoulder and often the armpit, and parts of the back and chest as well.