id: 95830 accession number: 1916.1511.e share license status: CC0 url: https://clevelandart.org/art/1916.1511.e updated: 2023-03-03 07:01:10.602000 Proper Left Arm (Vambrace, Rerebrace and Couter), c. 1560–1580. South Germany, 16th century. Steel, leather straps, brass rivets; overall: 47 cm (18 1/2 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. John L. Severance 1916.1511.e title: Proper Left Arm (Vambrace, Rerebrace and Couter) title in original language: series: series in original language: creation date: c. 1560–1580 creation date earliest: 1555 creation date latest: 1585 current location: creditline: Gift of Mr. and Mrs. John L. Severance copyright: --- culture: South Germany, 16th century technique: steel, leather straps, brass rivets department: Medieval Art collection: MED - Arms & Armor type: Arms and Armor find spot: catalogue raisonne: --- CREATORS --- measurements: Overall: 47 cm (18 1/2 in.) state of the work: edition of the work: support materials: inscriptions: --- CURRENT EXHIBITIONS --- LEGACY EXHIBITIONS --- PROVENANCE Frank Gair Macomber; Boston; cat #378 date: footnotes: citations: --- fun fact: digital description: wall description: This armor was developed for the joust-a sporting combat between two mounted contestants. Although all of the elements of this armor date from the same period, they are not all from the same suit. This armor is thus called "composed." It also shows the asymmetry of jousting armor. The participants rode along a wall-like barrier known as a "tilt" with their left sides facing one another. Consequently, armor on that side of the body had to be thicker. Note the large plate (grandguard) over the left shoulder for extra protection. Also, the breathing holes in the helmet were placed on the right side (farthest from an opponent's lance) to avoid injuries from splinters. The bracket attached to the right breastplate is called the lance-rest, a shock-absorbing support designed to accommodate the lance when "couched" under the right armpit. --- RELATED WORKS --- CITATIONS Gilchrist, Helen Ives. A Catalogue of the Collection of Arms & Armor Presented to the Cleveland Museum of Art by Mr. and Mrs. John Long Severance; 1916-1923. Cleveland: The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1924. page number: Mentioned: pp. 33-34, A12; Reproduced: Plate V, A12 url: https://archive.org/details/SeveranceCollection1924/page/n42 --- IMAGES web: https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1916.1511.e/1916.1511.e_web.jpg print: https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1916.1511.e/1916.1511.e_print.jpg full: https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1916.1511.e/1916.1511.e_full.tif