Left Gauntlet for Prince (later King) Philip of Spain (1527-1598)

Artist Desiderius Helmschmid (German, Augsburg, 1513–1579)

Artist Jörg T. Sorg the Younger (Southern Germany, Augsburg, about 1525 – 1603)

Date1549–1550

MediumSteel, brass, leather, gilding

Dimensions21.6 cm (8 1/2 in.), 1 lb, 14 oz (weight)

ClassificationsArms and Armor

Credit LineThe John Woodman Higgins Armory Collection

Terms

Object number2014.1155.13

DescriptionEach approx. 21.6 × 12.4 × 9.5 cm (8 1/2 × 4 7/8 × 3 3/4 in.). Weight: each approx. 850 g (1 lb.)

The gauntlets are of the fingered type, with a fairly short hinged cuff embossed for the wrist bone (ulnar styloid process at the end of the ulna bone), and secured closed on the inner face by a pierced lug and pivot-hook (lacking from both). The upper edge of the cuff is inwardly turned and roped, and bordered below by a leather lining strap secured by iron rivets with large internal heads. The hinged portion of the cuff is stepped at the wrist and fitted with a single, boxed lamination above (lacking on the right). Riveted to the leading edge of the main cuff-plate is a metacarpal defense of six narrow, curved laminations slightly bevelled at the edges overlapping toward the wrist. These are pivoted on brass-capped rivets with circular iron washers, in lobated terminals at the sides. The second lame from the leading edge is drawn out over, and embossed for, the base of the thumb. The defense of the thumb consists of four lames overlapping toward the end of the thumb, all riveted to an internal leather. There is a two-lame knuckle-plate: that which is riveted to the metacarpal defense is boxed, and further formed with a transverse pair of divided, roped ribs. The forward lame is faceted over the fingers which are protected by downwardly overlapping scales--six each on the index and ring fingers, seven on the middle, and five on the little finger.

The gauntlets have lightly embossed and etched bands which encircle the cuff opening and extend down the couter face of the metacarpal lames. The motives consist of repeated cartouches of concentric lozenges, trilobated at the sides, and filled with running foliate vines. The décor is alternating raised and blackened, with white vines and marked with a central dot within the innermost lozenge, or recessed and gilded. Each cartouche is separated from one another by small raised and blackened triangular, foliate topped projections at the sides of the bands. The central band formed is framed within candelabrum-filled recessed gilded bands, which are in turn edged at the outer side by a narrow, blackened sunken border. Except for the bands at the edges, the background of the decoration is stippled. The step on the inner wrist is etched with a gilded, stippled candelabrum; the lamination above, as well as the faces of the boxed knuckle-plate have etched tendril-like guilloche motives on a plain, gilded ground. The forward knuckle-plate has an etched and gilded band with an undulating foliate vine motif which is repeated over the base of each finger. At the base of the thumb is an etched trilobate quatrefoil gilded design on a plain ground, within which is a corresponding, four-armed foliate motif radiating from the center. The finger and thumb lames which are decorated are etched with floral and foliate vine motives on a stippled ground (two separate, unattached lames are present).

The decoration is very similar to that of the cuirass, but not a match.

Preliminary findings by Dr. Alan Williams (Cambridge University, UK) of metallurgy of Higgins Armory Museum items, based on tests conducted in the Fall of 1998, with comments provided on 23 February 1999: Steels, air-cooled. A sample was detached from the rim of the second plate from the inside of the top of the left gauntlet, showing a section. The microstructure consists of a uniform mixture of pearlite and some ferrite. This is a medium-carbon steel of around 0.6% C. The surface hardness varies between 120 and 340 VPH.
Label TextThese gauntlets were made as part of the “Flowers” Garniture. Named for the floral themes of its decoration, this suit of armor was made in Germany for Prince Philip of Spain. The rest of the suit is in the Spanish Royal Armory in Madrid. Prince Philip is best remembered in history as Philip II, the king who sent the Spanish Armada against England in 1588.ProvenanceRoyal Armory, Madrid. (M. August Henry, Paris); (April 19,1886, his sale, Hôtel Drouot, Paris, cat. no. 2); M. Barré, Paris. By 1890, M. le chevalier Raoul Richards, Rome; (March 1890, his sale, Rome); (V.R. Bachereau, rue Lepelletier, Paris); George Jay Gould [1864-1923]; (Duveen Brothers, New York, NY); 1928, John W. Higgins [1874-1961] for the Higgins Armory Museum, Worcester, MA; January 2014, transferred with Higgins Armory Collection to the Worcester Art Museum.

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