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Reference Image - Not for Reproduction
Mail Shirt
Reference Image - Not for Reproduction
Image © Worcester Art Museum, all rights reserved.

Mail Shirt

Date1400s–early 1500s
Mediumiron
Dimensions74 × 111 cm (29 1/8 × 43 11/16 in.), 8 lb 11 oz (weight)
ClassificationsArms and Armor
Credit LineThe John Woodman Higgins Armory Collection
Object number2014.842.2
DescriptionLarge rings, riveted, flattened, somewhat worn. Rings relatively lightweight. Round rivets, proud of surface; rectangular rivet holes. 8 mm int. dia, 10 mm ext.

Open in front. Sleeves c. 28 cm. Arms enlarge towards the wrists.
Label TextMail shirts are extremely difficult to date, as their design changed little over the centuries. This example gives some idea of the main form of body armor worn by the knight throughout most of the Middle Ages. It probably fastened with straps and buckles, a feature of late medieval mail shirts. Earlier examples had no opening in the front, and simply pulled over the head like a t-shirt. They also tended to be longer, reaching to the wrists and knees. The links were always riveted shut to prevent them being forced open by a piercing weapon. The enormous labor involved made the mail shirt a very expensive piece of equipment. Mail is very hard to keep clean, making it especially susceptible to rust, which is one reason why hardly any armor actually survives until the end of the Middle Ages.ProvenanceThe armor was assembled by Dr. Bashford Dean, apparently sometime between 1906 (when he acquired much material from the Baron Vidal de Léry collection in Paris) and late 1910/early 1911 (as the armor was displayed as catalogue #1 in the 1911 loan exhibition of arms and armor at the Metropolitan). The items come from a variety of collections; the mail shirt is from de Léry. Purchased by John Higgins from the estate of Dean (Riverdale, NY), the executor's #42, on 28 August 1929. Given to the Armory on 26 December 1947. Collection transfer from Higgins Armory, January 2014.
On View
On view
Reference Image - Not for Reproduction
Persian
probably 1600–1650
Reference Image - Not for Reproduction
Nuremberg
early 1500s, modified into 1800s
Reference Image - Not for Reproduction
Northern Indian
possibly 1700s
Reference Image - Not for Reproduction
Persian
1300s-1800s
Reference Image - Not for Reproduction
Persian
1600s-1800s
Reference Image - Not for Reproduction
Indian
1700s
Reference Image - Not for Reproduction
Indian
probably 1600s