Gauntlet Shield

Unknown

ca. 1600 · Steel, brass, leather · Arms and Armor

This unusual shield features a gauntlet-like element built directly into its body, which covered the user's arm and supported the weight. The raised bars could catch an opponent's sword point. Some similar examples feature attached sword blades. Seemingly impractical for fencing or defense, the large and irregularly shaped shield may have been intended more to present a novel and fearsome appearance than to protect the wearer.

Artist

Unknown

Date

ca. 1600

Medium

Steel, brass, leather

Culture

German

Department

Arms and Armor

Credit line

Bashford Dean Memorial Collection, Funds from various donors, 1929