Elbow Defense (Couter)
Unknown Artist
ca. 1430–40
Medium
Steel
Dimensions
H. 6 in. (15.2 cm); W. 5 3/4 in. (14.6 cm); D. 7 in. (17.8 cm); Wt. 12.7 oz. (360 g)
Classification
Armor Parts-Elbow Plates
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
29.150.122
Art Historical Context
This exquisite Elbow Defense, or *couter*, crafted in around 1430–40, is a masterful example of early Renaissance armor. Forged from steel, it protected the vulnerable elbow joint of a knight or soldier during an era of evolving plate armor, when Italian workshops led Europe in producing lightweight yet resilient defenses for battlefields and tournaments. Measuring just 6 inches high and weighing a mere 12.7, its compact design (5¾ inches wide, 7 inches deep) highlights the ingenuity of 15th-century metallurgists, balancing mobility with unyielding protection. As part of the Arms and Armor co...