Buckler
1630/50
Medium
Wood, iron, brass, gilding, silk velvet, and silk damask
Dimensions
Diam.: 57.1 cm (22 1/2 in.); Diam.: 57.1 cm (22 1/2 in.)
Classification
shield
Department
Applied Arts of Europe
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
116296
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
This buckler was intended for use with a rapier. A steel collar around the rim reinforces the plywood core from sword cuts. At the front, a raised ring around the central steel boss was designed to catch and bind the needle-like point of an opponent’s blade.
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...