Art/ Collection/ Art Object
Search

Pair of Gauntlets

Date:
ca. 1585
Geography:
Milan
Culture:
Italian, Milan
Medium:
Steel, gold, silver, leather
Dimensions:
L. of each 9 1/4 in. (23.5 cm); W. of each 3 3/4 in. (9.53 cm)
Classification:
Armor Parts-Gauntlets
Credit Line:
Rogers Fund, 1904
Accession Number:
04.3.34–.35
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 374
These small gauntlets belong to an armor for foot tournament made for the seven-year-old heir to the Spanish throne, the future Philip III (1578–1621, king from 1598). The decoration is typically Milanese, with bands of chiseled and gold-damascened trophy and grotesque ornament outlined with silver dots. A figure of Mars, god of war, is seen at the top of each cuff.
Ex. coll.: Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord, Duc de Dino, Paris.
London. Victoria and Albert Museum. "Special exhibition of works of art of the medieval, Renaissance, and more recent periods," 1862, no. 4625 (lent by Londesborough).

London. Alexandra Palace. "Londesborough Collection of Arms and Armour," 1875, no. 814.

Christie's, London. A Catalogue of ... Ancient Armour and Arms: Recently Received from Spain ... Slabs of Florentine Mosaic Tapestry ... Saxon Porcelain and a Few Pictures. London: Christie's, London, January 23–24, 1839. p. 17, no. 260.

Christie's, London. Works of Art, from the Byzantine Period to That of Louis Seize. London: Christie's, London, March 5–April 30, 1855. p. 196, no. 2247.

Cosson, Charles Alexander. Le Cabinet d'Armes de Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord, Duc de Dino. Paris: E. Rouveyre, 1901. p. 41, no. C. 7.

Grancsay, Stephen V. "Lucio Piccinino: Master Armorer of the Renaissance." The Metropolitan Museum of Art Bulletin pp. 270–271, figs. 17–18.

Alcon, Maria Teresa Ruiz. "Armaduras Infantiles en el Palacio de Oriente." Reales Sitios (1966), p. 48.

Grancsay, Stephen V., and Stuart W. Pyhrr. Arms & Armor: Essays by Stephen V. Grancsay from the Metropolitan Museum of Art Bulletin 1920–1964. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1986. p. 536, figs. 115.19–.20.

Christie's, London. Collection of Armour and Arms, Carvings in Ivory. London: Christie's, London, July 4–6 and July 9–11, 1888. p. 27, no. 297.

Timelines
Venice and Northern Italy, 1400-1600 A.D.
Venice and Northern Italy, 1600-1800 A.D.

Related Objects

Field Armor of King Henry VIII of England (reigned 1509–47)

Artist: Date: ca. 1544
Accession Number: 32.130.7a–l Date: ca. 1544 Medium: Steel, gold, textile, leather Accession: 32.130.7a–l On view in:Gallery 371

Shirt of Mail and Plate

Artist: Date: 15th–16th century
Accession Number: 04.3.456b Date: 15th–16th century Medium: Steel, iron, copper alloy, gold, silver, leather Accession: 04.3.456b On view in:Gallery 379

Cuirassier Armor

Artist: Date: ca. 1610–30
Accession Number: 2002.130a–p Date: ca. 1610–30 Medium: Steel, gold, leather, textile Accession: 2002.130a–p On view in:Gallery 371

Jousting Armor (Rennzeug) and Matching Half-Shaffron

Artist: Date: ca. 1580–90
Accession Number: 26.92.4a–v Date: ca. 1580–90 Medium: Steel, leather, paint Accession: 26.92.4a–v On view in:Gallery 371

Shield

Artist: Date: ca. 1560
Accession Number: 04.3.283 Date: ca. 1560 Medium: Steel, gold Accession: 04.3.283 On view in:Gallery 371
A curatorial staff member looks at an ink drawing using a magnifying lens

Who Cares for the Collection?

Learn more about the curatorial staff and the scientists and conservators who collaborate to study, exhibit, and care for the objects in The Met collection.

A conservator analyzes a painting up close

Collection Insights

Voices from across the Museum offer new perspectives on works in The Met collection representing more than 5,000 years of human creativity.

A collage of various public-domain works of art in The Met collection

Open Access at The Met

Stay up-to-date on the Museum's Open Access initiative, which makes more than 375,000 images of public-domain artworks from The Met collection available for free and unrestricted use.

Book cover and selected pages from "The Metropolitan Museum of Art: Masterpiece Paintings"

The Met Store

Explore publications and products inspired by The Met collection, which spans 5,000 years of culture from around the world.