Robert M Chapple, Archaeologist

< Table of Contents The two collections of armour that have piqued my interest enough to write about [ here | here ] are both jousting sets, intended for the nobleman at sport. This, however, is an altogether different beast. It is German-made battle armour from around 1570. Intended to be worn in combat, it sought to strike a balance between protection and ease of movement. Although not as ornate as the jousting armour, battle armour could still bear decoration and be quite fashionable and fashion conscious. This particular example is etched with bands of vine scroll, an influence from Islamic art as well as having a narrow waist, mimicking contemporary clothing styles. I can only think that in the heat of battle (and the back plate does appear to have a noticeable ‘ding’) the wearer of this set may have regretted such restrictive fashion choices. As much as I appreciate the quality of the armour, it is the pose that particularly strikes me. There is (to me, at least)...

[** If you like this post, please make a donation to the IR&DD project using the secure button at the right. If you think it is interesting or useful, please re-share via Facebook, Google+, Twitter etc. To help keep the site in operation, please use the amazon search portal at the right - each purchase earns a small amount of advertising revenue **] Knockdoe (1504): the archaeological & historical significance of one of Ireland's great but forgotten battles John Jeremiah Cronin &  Damian Shiels Project Background Galloglass ©  Claíomh &  Niamh O'Rourke 2013 In 2007 the Department of the Environment, Heritage& Local Government launched the Irish Battlefields Project . This ambitious undertaking that sought to look at all the battles fought in the Republic of Ireland between the 8th century and 1798, with a view to determining how many were locatable in today’s landscape. An advisory panel developed a set of criteria to determine ...