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Ornate silver shield with intricate gold vine patterns and medieval animal motifs, accented by brass rivets on a blue background.
Exhibition

Defensive Display: Shields from The Met Collection

OverviewExhibition Objects
Buckler (<i>Targhetta da Pugno</i>), Steel, gold, Italian
Buckler (Targhetta da Pugno)
Italian
ca. 1550–75
Gauntlet Shield, Steel, brass, leather, German
Gauntlet Shield
German
ca. 1600
Fist Shield, Steel, Italian
Fist Shield
Italian
16th century
Trellised Targe for the Tilt, Steel, gold, German, Augsburg
Trellised Targe for the Tilt
German, Augsburg
ca. 1550–60
Pistol Shield, Steel, wood, wool, brass, British
Pistol Shield
British
ca. 1525 and later
Shield for the Field or Tournament (Targe), Wood, leather, linen, gesso, pigments, silver, German
Shield for the Field or Tournament (Targe)
German
ca. 1450
Messenger Badge and Shield, Iron, copper, bronze, gold, enamel, possibly Italian
Messenger Badge and Shield
possibly Italian
badge, 1400–1450; shield, ca. 1800
Shield of Sir John Smythe (1534–1607), Steel, gold, German, Augsburg
Shield of Sir John Smythe (1534–1607)
German, Augsburg
ca. 1575–85
Shoulder Guards (<i>Sode</i>), Iron, silk, leather, gold, silver, lacquer, brass, Japanese
Shoulder Guards (Sode)
Japanese
17th century
Buckler, Iron, pigskin, brass, wood, fiber (flax), linen, British, Wrexham, Wales
Buckler
British, Wrexham, Wales
ca. 1500
Shield (<i>Sipar</i>), Steel, gold, velvet, iron, Persian
Shield (Sipar)
Persian
late 18th–19th century
Shield (<i>Dhál</i>), Khooshal Dhunjee & Sons, Leather, brass, textile, pigment, iron, Indian, Gujarat
Shield (Dhál)
Khooshal Dhunjee & Sons
ca. 1875
Shield (<i>Rotella</i> or <i>Brocchiere</i>) from an Armor Garniture of the Völs-Colonna Family, Steel, copper alloy (brass), leather, horsehair, textile, Italian, Milan
Shield (Rotella or Brocchiere) from an Armor Garniture of the Völs-Colonna Family
Italian, Milan
ca. 1570–80
Shield (<i>Dhàl</i>), Hide, gilt bronze, enamel, lacquer, jewels, textile (velvet), North Indian
Shield (Dhàl)
North Indian
early 19th century
Shield, Wood, polychromy, Philippine, Moro
Shield
Philippine, Moro
18th–19th century
Shield (<i>Peurise tuju bintang</i>, "seven star shield"), Cane, textile, brass, iron, Sumatran, Sultanate of Aceh
Shield (Peurise tuju bintang, "seven star shield")
Sumatran, Sultanate of Aceh
19th century
Shield (peurise tuju bintang "seven star shield"), Cane, brass, iron, Sumatran, Sultanate of Aceh
Shield (peurise tuju bintang "seven star shield")
Sumatran, Sultanate of Aceh
19th century
Shield (<i>phub</i>), Cane, iron, brass, Tibetan
Shield (phub)
Tibetan
possibly 14th–16th century
Shield, Wood, leather, lacquer, gold, pigment, gesso, copper alloy, iron, probably Indian; lacquerwork, Southeast Asian, Thailand or Burma (Myanmar)
Shield
probably Indian; lacquerwork, Southeast Asian, Thailand or Burma (Myanmar)
first half 17th century
Shield (<i>Adarga</i>), Leather, polychromy, Mexican
Shield (Adarga)
Mexican
probably mid-18th century
Shield (<i>Targone</i>), Wood, gesso, pigment, Italian, Pisa
Shield (Targone)
Italian, Pisa
dated 1807
Shield (<i>Targone</i>), Wood, gesso, pigment, Italian, Pisa
Shield (Targone)
Italian, Pisa
dated 1807
Mace or Club (<i>Mazzacorto</i>), Wood, gesso, pigment, Italian, Pisa
Mace or Club (Mazzacorto)
Italian, Pisa
ca. 1807
Helmet and Breastplate for the Gioco del Ponte, Steel, polychromy, lead, Italian
Helmet and Breastplate for the Gioco del Ponte
Italian
17th century, with later alterations
Shield Boss, Steel, probably Turkish
Shield Boss
probably Turkish
16th–17th century
Shield, Wood, leather, gesso, polychromy, gold, silver foil, Italian, probably Venice
Shield
Italian, probably Venice
ca. 1600