Composed Armor for Man and Horse
By the end of the thirteenth century, the armor-producing cities of northern Italy had gained an international reputation and were exporting arms and armor throughout Europe. Milan was preeminent through the sixteenth century, followed by Brescia. The greatest Milanese armorers were members of the Missaglia family, a dynasty of merchant-armorers active from the late fourteenth to the early sixteenth century. During the fifteenth century, the Italians perfected complete armor of plate. Probably developed in Milan around 1400, it covered the wearer from head to foot. The advanced technical and stylistic features of Milanese armor influenced local craftsmen wherever it was exported. Thus, in the fifteenth century, armors worn across western Europe from Spain to Flanders displayed Italian characteristics. Thriving local centers of armor-making were found at Burgos and Calatayud in Spain; Paris, Tours, and Lyons in France; and Arbois in Burgundy.
Artwork Details
- Title: Composed Armor for Man and Horse
- Armorer: Left reinforcing elbow stamped with marks belonging to the Missaglia workshop (Italian, Milan, recorded 1430–1529)
- Armorer: Shaffron stamped with marks attributed to Ambrogio de Osma (Italian, Brescia, documented 1446–75)
- Date: ca. 1450–1525 and later
- Culture: European, Italy, Spain, Flanders and England
- Medium: Steel, brass, leather, textile (velvet, wool), iron
- Dimensions: Wt. of armor for man 59 lb. 4 oz. (26.88 kg); Wt. of helmet 3 lb. 12 oz. (1697 g); 29.150.9v (mail shirt): H. 31 1/2 in. (80.0 cm); W. 45 11/16 in. (116.0 cm); W. of chest 24 in. (61.0 cm); Diam. (outside) of solid links 13/32 in. (10.2 mm); Diam. (inside) of solid links 9/32 in. (7.3 mm); Diam. (outside) of riveted links 3/8 in. (9.5 mm); Diam. (inside) of riveted links 9/32 in. (7.0 mm); Diam. (outside) of latten solid links 3/8 in. (9.1 mm); Diam. (inside) of latten solid links 1/4 in. (6.4 mm); Diam. (outside) of latten riveted links 3/8 in. (9.3 mm); Diam. (inside) of lattened riveted links 5/16 in. (7.8 mm); Diam. (outside) of collar links 11/32 in. (8.5 mm); Diam. (inside) of collar links 1/4 in. (6.2 mm).
- Classification: Armor for Horse and Man
- Credit Line: Bashford Dean Memorial Collection, Bequest of Bashford Dean, 1928
- Object Number: 29.150.9
- Curatorial Department: Arms and Armor
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Ambrogio de Osma
ca. 1460–70
Spanish
late 15th century
possibly Flemish or British
ca. 1475–1525
Missaglia workshop
ca. 1475
Missaglia workshop
late 15th century
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