Armpit Defense
Unknown Artist
16th century
Medium
Steel
Dimensions
H. 10 5/8 in. (27.0 cm); W. 9 13/16 in. (25.0 cm); Diam. (outside) of links 3/8 in. (10.0 mm); Diam. (inside) of links 9/32 in. (6.8 mm); Wt. 1 lb. 10.5 oz. (.75 kg)
Classification
Culture
German
Department
Arms and Armor
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Prince Albrecht Radziwill, 1927
Accession Number
27.183.34
Art Historical Context
Step into the riveting world of 16th German arms and armor with the *Armpit Defense*, a piece of steel chainmail designed to safeguard one of the body's most vulnerable spots. Crafted in Germany during the Renaissance era, when plate armor dominated European battlefields, this flexible mail insert allowed knights crucial mobility in the armpit joint—where rigid plates couldn't bend without compromising protection. Measuring just 10 5/8 inches high and weighing a mere 1 lb. 10.5 oz., its compact form highlights the ingenuity of medieval engineers balancing defense with dexterity. The artistry ...