ticketsMember | Make a donation

Armor of Emperor Ferdinand I (1503–1564)

Armorer Kunz Lochner German
dated 1549
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 371
The ownership of this armor by Ferdinand I (1503–1564) is indicated by the heraldic emblems on the toe caps: the imperial double-headed eagle surmounted by a royal crown, which signifies Ferdinand’s honorific status as king of the Romans and designated successor to his brother, Emperor Charles V. The image of the Virgin and Child on the breastplate was also used by Charles V on his own armors. The backplate is decorated with crossed staves and firesteels, the insignia of the Order of the Golden Fleece, an elite chivalric society of which Ferdinand was a member.

Kunz Lochner, Nuremberg’s most celebrated armorer of the period, made several armors for both Ferdinand and his son Archduke Maximilian (1527–1576), including two matching armors produced about 1546 that are very similar to the one exhibited here.

The helmet of the Museum’s armor was not made for it originally but has been associated with the armor since at least the early nineteenth century.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Armor of Emperor Ferdinand I (1503–1564)
  • Armorer: Kunz Lochner (German, Nuremberg, 1510–1567)
  • Date: dated 1549
  • Geography: Nuremberg
  • Culture: German, Nuremberg
  • Medium: Steel, brass, leather
  • Dimensions: H. 67 in. (170.2 cm); Wt. 52 lb. 14 oz. (24 kg)
  • Classification: Armor
  • Credit Line: Purchase, Rogers Fund and George D. Pratt Gift, 1933
  • Object Number: 33.164a–x
  • Curatorial Department: Arms and Armor

More Artwork

More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Breastplate, Kunz Lochner German, Steel, gold, German, Nuremberg
Breastplate
Kunz Lochner
ca. 1550–55
Burgonet, Kunz Lochner German, Steel, leather, textile, German, Nuremberg
Burgonet
Kunz Lochner
ca. 1540–50
Close-Helmet, Kunz Lochner German, Steel, leather, German, Nuremberg
Close-Helmet
Kunz Lochner
1550
Vamplate Belonging to an Armor for Field and Tournament Made for Duke Nikolaus "The Black" Radziwill (1515–1565), Duke of Nesvizh and Olyka, Prince of the Empire, Grand Chancellor and Marshal of Lithuania, Kunz Lochner German, Steel, gold, paint, German, Nuremberg
Vamplate Belonging to an Armor for Field and Tournament Made for Duke Nikolaus "The Black" Radziwill (1515–1565), Duke of Nesvizh and Olyka, Prince of the Empire, Grand Chancellor and Marshal of Lithuania
Kunz Lochner
ca. 1555; probably repainted later
Crinet Plate Belonging to an Armor for Field and Tournament Made for Duke Nikolaus "The Black" Radziwill (1515–1565), Duke of Nesvizh and Olyka, Prince of the Empire, Grand Chancellor and Marshal of Lithuania, Kunz Lochner German, Steel, brass, gold, paint, German, Nuremberg
Crinet Plate Belonging to an Armor for Field and Tournament Made for Duke Nikolaus "The Black" Radziwill (1515–1565), Duke of Nesvizh and Olyka, Prince of the Empire, Grand Chancellor and Marshal of Lithuania
Kunz Lochner
ca. 1555; probably repainted later

Related Content

Perspectives

Articles, audio, and video from The Met's online magazine.

Timeline of Art History

Entries from The Met's art encyclopedia.

Showing 4 of 5

Publications

Books, guides, and catalogues published by The Met.

Showing 4 of 7

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.