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Ornate silver shield with intricate gold vine patterns and medieval animal motifs, accented by brass rivets on a blue background.

Exhibition

Defensive Display: Shields from The Met Collection

Overview Exhibition Objects

Buckler (<i>Targhetta da Pugno</i>), Steel, gold, Italian — Buckler (Targhetta da Pugno)
Italian
ca. 1550–75

Gauntlet Shield, Steel, brass, leather, German — Gauntlet Shield
German
ca. 1600

Fist Shield, Steel, Italian — Fist Shield
Italian
16th century

Trellised Targe for the Tilt, Steel, gold, German, Augsburg — Trellised Targe for the Tilt
German, Augsburg
ca. 1550–60

Pistol Shield, Wood, steel, wool, British — Pistol Shield
British
ca. 1525 and later

Shield for the Field or Tournament (Targe), Wood, leather, linen, gesso, pigments, silver, German — Shield for the Field or Tournament (Targe)
German
ca. 1450

Messenger Badge and Shield, Iron, copper, bronze, gold, enamel, possibly Italian — Messenger Badge and Shield
possibly Italian
badge, 1400–1450; shield, ca. 1800

Shield of Sir John Smythe (1534–1607), Steel, gold, German, Augsburg — Shield of Sir John Smythe (1534–1607)
German, Augsburg
ca. 1575–85

Shoulder Guards (Sodē), Iron, Japanese — Shoulder Guards (Sodē)
Japanese
17th century

Shield, Iron, pigskin, brass, wood, fiber (flax), linen, British — Shield
British
ca. 1500

Shield (Sipar), Steel, gold, velvet, iron, Persian — Shield (Sipar)
Persian
late 18th–19th century

Shield (<i>Dhál</i>), Khooshal Dhunjee & Sons, Leather, brass, textile, pigment, Indian, Gujarat — Shield (Dhál)
Khooshal Dhunjee & Sons
ca. 1875

Shield (<i>Rotella</i> or <i>Brocchiere</i>) from an Armor Garniture of the Völs-Colonna Family, Steel, textile, Italian, Milan — Shield (Rotella or Brocchiere) from an Armor Garniture of the Völs-Colonna Family
Italian, Milan
ca. 1570–80

Shield (<i>Dhàl</i>), Hide, gilt bronze, enamel, lacquer, jewels, textile (velvet), North Indian — Shield (Dhàl)
North Indian
early 19th century

Shield, Wood, polychromy, Philippine, Moro — Shield
Philippine, Moro
18th–19th century

Shield (Buckler)

Sumatran

16th–19th century

Sumatran, Batak

16th–19th century

Shield (phub), Cane, iron, brass, Tibetan — Shield (phub)
Tibetan
possibly 14th–16th century

Shield, Wood, leather, lacquer, gold, pigment, gesso, copper alloy, iron, probably Indian; lacquerwork, Southeast Asian, Thailand or Burma (Myanmar) — Shield
probably Indian; lacquerwork, Southeast Asian, Thailand or Burma (Myanmar)
first half 17th century

Shield (Adarga), Leather, pigment, Mexican — Shield (Adarga)
Mexican
probably mid-18th century

Shield (Targone), Wood, paint, Italian, Pisa — Shield (Targone)
Italian, Pisa
dated 1807

Shield (Targone), Wood, gesso, pigment, Italian, Pisa — Shield (Targone)
Italian, Pisa
17th century

Mace or Club (Mazzacorto), Wood, pigment, Italian, Pisa — Mace or Club (Mazzacorto)
Italian, Pisa
ca. 1807

Helmet and Breastplate for the Gioco del Ponte, Steel, polychromy, lead, Italian — Helmet and Breastplate for the Gioco del Ponte
Italian
17th century, with later alterations

Shield Boss, Steel, probably Turkish — Shield Boss
probably Turkish
16th–17th century

Shield, Wood, leather, gesso, polychromy, gold, silver foil, Italian, probably Venice — Shield
Italian, probably Venice
ca. 1600