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Tournament Shield (Targe)

ca. 1500
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 307
Shields of this shape were inspired by Hungarian light-cavalry shields and were adopted in Germany and Austria for the Hussarisch Turnier (tournament in Hungarian-style costume). The German motto around the owl reads in translation, "Although I am the hated bird, I rather enjoy that." Below this are the quartered arms of the Tänzl and Rindscheit families, which were united by marriage in 1499.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Tournament Shield (Targe)
  • Date: ca. 1500
  • Culture: German
  • Medium: Wood, burlap, leather, gesso, polychromy
  • Dimensions: H. 26 3/8 in. (67 cm); W. 13 in. (33 cm); D. 5 1/2 in. (14 cm); Wt. 5 lb. 5 oz. (2418 g); outer circumference 19 5/16 in. (49 cm); H. of lance rest 2 3/8 in. (6 cm)
  • Classification: Shields
  • Credit Line: Purchase, Bashford Dean Bequest, 1969
  • Object Number: 69.196
  • Curatorial Department: Arms and Armor

More Artwork

More Artwork
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Shield for the Field or Tournament (Targe), Wood, leather, linen, gesso, pigments, silver, German
Shield for the Field or Tournament (Targe)
German
ca. 1450
Tournament or Cavalry Shield (Targe), Wood, leather, gesso, silver, paint, probably Austrian
Tournament or Cavalry Shield (Targe)
probably Austrian
early 15th century
Shield, Girolamo da Treviso Italian, Wood, linen, gesso, gold leaf, polychromy, Italian, probably Bologna
Shield
Girolamo da Treviso
ca. 1535
Armor of Emperor Ferdinand I (1503–1564), Kunz Lochner German, Steel, brass, leather, German, Nuremberg
Armor of Emperor Ferdinand I (1503–1564)
Kunz Lochner
dated 1549
Portions of a Costume Armor, Kolman Helmschmid German, Steel, copper alloy, gold, German, Augsburg
Portions of a Costume Armor
Kolman Helmschmid
ca. 1525

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