Arms and Armor

Painted infantry shield (pavise) with coat of arms of Zwickau, Germany and badge of the kings of Bohemia, circa 1450

from The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Axe head. late 2nd–early 1st millennium BCE. Credit line: Purchase, Mrs. Vladimir S. Littauer Gift, 1970 https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/325256

The reitar armor was made by Michael Witz Jr., who worked in Innsbruck around 1550. The client for whom they were made remained unknown. The armor is very simple in design, but no less luxurious. All the patterns on it are stamped from the inside, that is, they stand out in relief against the general background of the metal surface. Then the gaps between the relief details were blackened, and the relief surfaces were polished to a high gloss.

A Scottish Highlander’s Targe (1700s). Until the Battle of Culloden in 1746, the Scottish Highlander's main means of defence in battle was his Targe (shield). Following the Battle of Culloden, the carrying of the Targe was banned by the ‘Disarming Act,’ and many were sadly destroyed. Heraldic, plant and animal designs were common, alongside roundels, stars, solar designs and ancient Celtic inspired patterns. Traditionally the central boss might be unscrewed revealing a brass cup from which the Highland Soldier could drink from and a spike would also be attached within this central boss🌹

Photograph - by Deborah (Kelvingrove Museum Glasgow)

The rondache or roundel was a shield carried by late Medieval  and  Renaissance  foot soldiers  (swordsman) . 

Trench rondache ( Laternenschild) appeared in the XVI century and was a combination of a bracer, a knight's glove, as well as an early rondache. The edges of the rondache were covered with special teeth that served as a rebuff upon impact. The inner side provided fixtures to which the sword and lantern were attached. The lantern could shine from the opening hole. The rondache was usually worn on the left hand.

Sword with gold and silver decorated hilt from Nuremburg, Germany, dated 1547

from The Dresden State Art Collection

This Hand and a Half Sword was made in approximately 1510 in Germany by an unknown maker.

A phenomenally enameled silver Swept-hilt Rapier, Germany, ca. 1606, housed at the Staaliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden.

Tabarzin Axe

This particular Persian saddle axe from the Afsharid period (1736/1796) has a hilt covered in silver leaf. The crescent shaped blade is decorated at the base and hammer with animal scenes in chisel work and floral motifs inlaid in gold which frame the blade and the hammer.

A transitional Rapier with a pierced blade,

England or Germany, ca. 1635-1645, housed at the Royal Armouries War Gallery, Leeds.

The Hawthornen sword, a two handed sword with four quillions and carved tusk hilt, Scotland, late 16th century

from The National Museum of Scotland

The sword of Gustav II Adolf, 1652 Livrustkammaren, Sweden .

A ridge on both sides, high above the flat on one side, a modest ridge turning into a modest flat diamond-shaped area on the other.

Total length: 910 mm; Blade length 1120 mm (112 cm); Blade width 53 mm; Weight: 1250 g

Sword hilts on display at the Kelvingrove Museum in Glasgow, Scotland.

1. Cup hilt rapier, early 17th century, Spanish.

2. Swept-hilt rapier, about 1600, English hilt, German blade.

3. Fencing sword, mid-16th century, Italian hilt, Spanish blade.

4. Swept-hilt rapier, late 16th century, probably German.

5. Katzbalger, early 16th century, German.

6. Two-handed sword, about 1550, German.

7. Two-handed sword, late 16th or early 17th century, Highland Scottish.

What a fine collection of quillon configurations

German armour for man and horse by A.D. Isaac Via Flickr: This armour was easy to photograph because it was not surrounded by a display case.