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Portions of a Field Armor

dated 1524
Not on view
These pieces were once part of a complete armor designed for use in battle. Its missing parts include the helmet, collar, gauntlets, and leg defenses. Even though incomplete, this armor is notable for the quality of its construction, the elegance of its form, accented by prominent roped ridges, and for its lively etched decoration.

The etched decoration features distinctive female heads, birds, and trophies amid foliate scrolls, all derived from prints by Daniel Hopfer (1471–1536). It is believed that early in his career, Hopfer etched ornament and figures on armor. Emperor Maximilian especially favored armor decorated with Italianate motifs in the Northern Renaissance style.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Portions of a Field Armor
  • Date: dated 1524
  • Geography: probably Augsburg
  • Culture: German, probably Augsburg
  • Medium: Steel, leather
  • Dimensions: H. as mounted 29 3/4 in. (75.57 cm); Wt. 28 lb. (12.7 kg); breastplate (c): 14 3/4 × 14 3/4 × 7 11/16 in. (37.5 × 37.5 × 19.5 cm); Wt. 6 lb. 14 oz. (3112 g); tassets (d): 10 1/4 × 19 5/16 × 7 3/8 in. (26 × 49 × 18.7 cm); Wt. 3 lb. 3 oz. (1445 g); backplate (e): 15 9/16 × 14 15/16 × 9 1/4 in. (39.5 × 38 × 23.5 cm); Wt. 5 lb. 3 oz. (2340 g); culet (f): 5 7/8 × 18 5/16 × 12 3/16 in. (15 × 46.5 × 31 cm); Wt. 2 lb. 8 oz. (1141 g); right pauldron (g): 10 13/16 × 10 13/16 × 7 13/16 in. (27.5 × 27.5 × 19.8 cm); Wt. 2 lb. 7 oz. (1110 g); left pauldron (h): 11 5/8 × 11 5/16 × 8 9/16 in. (29.5 × 28.8 × 21.8 cm); Wt. 2 lb. 12 oz. (1251 g); vambrace (i): 20 × 6 × 9 1/2 in. (50.8 × 15.2 × 24.1 cm); Wt. 2 lb. 9 oz. (1165 g); vambrace (j): 20 × 5 1/2 × 9 in. (50.8 × 14 × 22.9 cm); Wt. 2 lb. 8 oz. (1136 g)
  • Classification: Armor for Man
  • Credit Line: Bashford Dean Memorial Collection, Bequest of Bashford Dean, 1928
  • Object Number: 29.150.3b–p
  • Curatorial Department: Arms and Armor

More Artwork

More Artwork
Armet with Mask Visor in the Form of a Rooster, Steel, German, probably Augsburg
Armet with Mask Visor in the Form of a Rooster
German, probably Augsburg
ca. 1530
Armor of Henry II, King of France (reigned 1547–59), Jean Cousin the Elder French, Steel, gold, silver, leather, textile, French, possibly Paris
Armor of Henry II, King of France (reigned 1547–59)
Designer Part of the decoration design by Jean Cousin the Elder
Designer Part of the decoration design possibly by Baptiste Pellerin
ca. 1555
Burgonet, Ulrich Holzmann German, Steel, brass, leather, German, probably Augsburg
Burgonet
Decorator Decoration attributed to Ulrich Holzmann
ca. 1540–50
Helmet (Sallet), Steel, iron, gold, silver, cloisonné enamel, leather, textile, Spanish, possibly Granada
Helmet (Sallet)
Spanish, possibly Granada
late 15th–early 16th century
Close-Helmet for the Tournament, Steel, leather, textile, German, probably Augsburg
Close-Helmet for the Tournament
German, probably Augsburg
late 16th century

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