These wing-shaped shields, with the distinctive upward-sweeping back edge, were the characteristic light-cavalry shields of Hungary. During the sixteenth century, the style was adopted across much of eastern Europe by both Christian and Islamic horsemen. The shield's elongated upper edge was designed to defend the back of the head and neck against cuts from a saber, the preferred cavalry weapon in that region.
The shield on the right is painted on its exterior with the double-bladed sword of the prophet Muhammad and on its interior with the Crucifix and instruments of the Passion. This unusual mix of Islamic and Christian symbols suggests that the shield was used in a tournament by a Christian warrior dressed in Muslim fashion. In these "Hungarian style" tournaments, the participants wore Hungarian and Turkish costumes and used sabers to strike off feathers attached to their opponents' helmets and to the apex of their painted shields. Even at a time when Turkish armies were a constant threat to eastern Europe, their costumes and tactics were imitated by their foes.
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Title:Three Hungarian-Style Shields
Date:ca. 1500–1550
Culture:Eastern European
Medium:Wood, leather, gesso, polychromy
Dimensions:42.50.29: H. 50 in. (127 cm); W. 20 in. (50.8 cm); 42.50.30: H. 45 in. (114.3 cm); W. 25 in. (63.5 cm); 49.57.1: H. 32 1/2 in. (82.55 cm); W. 21 5/8 in. (54.91 cm)
Classification:Shields
Credit Line:42.50.29, .30: Gift of Stephen V. Grancsay, 1942; 49.57.1: Rogers Fund, 1949
Accession Number:42.50.29, .30; 49.57.1
42.50.29, .30: Clarence H. Mackay, Roslyn, NY (until d. 1938; his estate, sold through Seligmann & Co. to Grancsay); Stephen V. Grancsay, New York (by January 14, 1941–42; his gift to MMA); 49.57.1: [Blumka Gallery, New York, until 1949; sold to MMA].
New York. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. "Loan Exhibition of European Arms and Armor," August 3–September 27, 1931, nos. 97, 98 (42.50.29, .30).
Henri Le Roy. Catalogue Illustré D'armes Anciennes, Européennes Et Orientales, Du Temps Des Croisades, D'objets De Haute Antiquité: [composant La Collection Peucker]. Brussels: Henri Le Roy, August 28–30, 1854. no. 128, pl. III, fig. 8 (42.50.29).
Gimbel, Karl Georg. Tafeln zur Entwicklungsgeschichte der Schutz und Trutz-Waffen in Europa mit Ausschluss der Feuerwaffen vom VIII.–XVII. Jahrhundert. Baden-Baden: Ernst Kölblin, 1894. pl. 5, fig. 14 (49.57.1).
Szendrei, János. Ungarische Kriegsgeschichtliche Denkmäler in der Milleniums-Landes-Austellung. Budapest: Kgl. Ung. Handelsminister, als Präses der Landes-Commission für die Millenniums-Ausstellung, 1896. pp. 172–74, 415–16, nos. 477, 2810 (shields with similar decoration as 49.57.1).
Boeheim, Wendelin. "Alte Rüstkammer (Fachliche Notizen)." Zeitschrift für historische Waffenkunde, Zeitschrift für Historische Waffen- und Kostümkunde, 1 p. 213 (probably shield 42.50.30).
Rolland, Victor, Henri Rolland, and J. G. Petrick. Armoiries des Familles Contenues dans l'Armorial Général de J.B. Rieststap. Vol. III. Paris: Institut Héraldique Universel, 1903–1926. vol. III, pl. CCLII (for arms of Imhof family of Speilberg); vol VI, pl. CXXVIII (for arms of the Voypière family of Lyons), (related to 42.50.29).
Sotheby, Wilkinson & Hodge. Armour and weapons. London: Sotheby, Wilkinson & Hodge, November 10–11, 1920. no. 80, ill. (42.50.29).
Anderson Galleries. The Great Historical Collection of Arms & Armour. New York: Anderson Galleries, March 1–5, 1927. p. 203, no. 1052, ill. (42.50.30).
Cassirer, Paul, Theodor Demmler, Max J. Friedländer, Leo Planiscig, and August Schestag. Die Sammlung Dr. Albert Figdor, Wien: Erster Teil, Fünfter Band: Kästchen und Schachteln des 14.–16. Jahrhunderts, Kästchen aus Metall, Glocken, Mörser, Bronzegerät des Mittelalters, Bronzeplatten von Epitaphien, Wappen und Totenschilder. Vol. 5. Berlin: Paul Cassirer, September 29–30, 1930. no. 558 (49.57.1).
Grancsay, Stephen V. Loan Exhibition of European Arms and Armor: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, August 3 to September 27, 1931. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1931. p. 31, nos. 97, 98 (42.50.29, .30).
Auer, Alfred, and Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna. Das Inventarium der Ambraser Sammlungen aus dem Jahr 1621: I. Teil: die Rüstkammern. Vienna: Anton Schroll, 1984. p. CIX, no. 445 (42.50.29, .30).
Nickel, Helmut. "Arms and Armor from the Permanent Collection." The Metropolitan Museum of Art Bulletin (Summer 1991), pp. 54–55, 64, ill. (49.57.1).
Nickel, Helmut. "Neun Schwerter aus dem Lande des Mahdi." Waffen– und Kostümkunde: Zeitschrift der Gesellschaft für Historische Waffen– und Kostümkunde, Zeitschrift für Historische Waffen- und Kostümkunde, 52, ser. 3 v. 35, n.1 pp. 45–56, fig. 12 (49.57.1).
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