Gothic Backplate
Germany, late 15th Century · c. 1475–1500 · Cleveland Museum of Art
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From the museum
Over time the increasing effectiveness of the crossbow and longbow made steel plates necessary for protection. Around 1400 a knight was protected almost entirely by plate armor. The elements shown here (backplate and fan-shaped pauldrons), with their sculptural line, illustrate the beauty of plate armor from the Gothic age. This armor would have been polished mirror bright and been a spectacular sight in the sunlight.
The museum’s own description, in English. Licence: CC0
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Details
- Maker
- Germany, late 15th Century
- Date
- c. 1475–1500
- Medium
- steel, modern leather straps
- Dimensions
- Overall: 44.5 x 34.5 x 16.5 cm (17 1/2 x 13 9/16 x 6 1/2 in.)
- Place of origin
- Germany
- Held by
- Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland · On view · 210A Armor Court
- Credit line
- Gift of Mr. and Mrs. John L. Severance
Image: Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0