Brigandine Backplate
Unknown Artist
1400–1450
Medium
Steel, textile
Dimensions
H. 9 1/4 in. (23.5 cm); W. 7 in. (17.8 cm); Wt. 1 lb. 0.6 oz. (470.6 g)
Classification
Armor Parts
Culture
Italian
Department
Arms and Armor
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bashford Dean Memorial Collection, Bequest of Bashford Dean, 1928
Accession Number
29.150.97
Art Historical Context
Welcome to the Arms and Armor gallery, where we uncover the ingenuity of medieval defense! This rare **Brigandine Backplate crafted in Italy between 1400 and1450, is a example of late medieval armor innovation. Made from steel plates riveted to a flexible textile backing, it formed part of a brigandine—a lightweight, garment-like armor worn by infantry soldiers and mercenaries during Italy's turbulent city-state wars. Its compact size (just 9¼ inches high and 7 inches wide) and featherlight weight (under 1 pound) highlight the shift from heavy plate armor to more agile protection, ideal for fo...