Left Vambrace (Arm Defense)

Anton Peffenhauser

ca. 1580 · Steel, brass, leather · Arms and Armor

This left vambrace belongs to an armor (acc. no. 29.154.1) with an elegant sculptural quality that is characteristic of the finest Augsburg armors. It is identical in appearance to a series of tournament armors ordered by the duke of Bavaria in 1579–80 from Anton Peffenhauser, the leading armorer in Augsburg during the second half of the sixteenth century. In the joust, or tilt, in the German fashion, two contestants armed with blunt lances rode at one another, left side to left side, separated by a barrier (called a tilt), the object beign to break lances or unseat the opponent. Because the left side of the rider was thus particularly vulnerable, it was given additional protection in the form of large, smooth reinforcing plates that would deflect the blow of the lance. Characteristic of these armors are the helm screwed to the breastplate and backplate, the tilt targe (the cape-like defense for the left shoulder) screwed directly to the breastplate, a passguard (the reinforcing plate over the left elbow), and the manifer (overized left gauntlet).

Artist

Anton Peffenhauser

Date

ca. 1580

Medium

Steel, brass, leather

Culture

German, Augsburg

Department

Arms and Armor

Credit line

Gift of William H. Riggs, 1913