Right Gauntlet

Culture German

Date1620–1625

Mediumsteel, brass, leather, paint and fabric

Dimensions33 × 14.5 cm (13 × 5 11/16 in.), 1 lb 8 oz (weight)

ClassificationsArms and Armor

MarkingsWhat may be imperfect marks appear on the medial area of the cuff near the point.

Credit LineThe John Woodman Higgins Armory Collection

Terms

Object number2014.1148.14

DescriptionNot a pair, but both are remarkably intact.

Right gauntlet: This is German, perhaps Nuremberg or Augsburg, c. 1620, and is for a cuirassier armor. Deep, flared pointed riveted cuff with brass-capped, iron rivets linking it to wristplate and laminated metacarpal defense with knuckle-plate to which are attached laminated fingers. The opening for the hand has an inward, plain turn over a wire core. This is bordered by a recessed plain band filled with twelve brass-capped domed rivets whose circular washers within retain a leather lining-band and its sewn chamois leather glove.

The anterior end of the cuff is bluntly pointed at the rivets as are the ends of the five metacarpal lames below. Riveted to the lowest of these is a knuckle-plate bossed in a low curve for the knuckle-bones, and fitted with leather straps with steel finger scales. The terminal scales are rounded, with brass-capped rivets at the ends. Attached to the inner side edge of the lowest metacarpal plate is a leather fragment that secured the now-lost thumb-plate. The oblong thumb scales are preserved. Encircling the base of the wrist across the inner side of the gauntlet is a brass buckle-and-strap fastener.

This gauntlet was originally fired to a blackened finish. Its quality is quite good, particularly considering the degraded standards of the day.
ProvenancePurchased by Museum from J. Gluckselig & Sohn (Vienna, Austria) on December 1, 1936. Paid $300 for lot HAM#s 2383-2387. Old record states this armor was dealer's number 28, and mentions another "tag 1145". Collection transfer from Higgins Armory, Janaury 2014.

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