Forearm Defense (Vambrace)
Unknown Artist
ca. 1425–50, with later restorations
Medium
Steel, leather
Dimensions
H. 8 1/4 in. (21 cm); W. 3 1/2 in. (8.9 cm); D. 3 in. (7.6 cm)
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
29.150.24
Art Historical Context
This elegant forearm defense, known as a vambrace, hails from Italy around 1425–50, a pivotal era when plate armor evolved to offer comprehensive protection for knights and soldiers. Crafted from steel with leather components, it measures a compact 8¼ inches high, designed to shield the vulnerable forearm during the chaos of medieval combat or tournaments. Its Italian origins reflect the Renaissance ingenuity of Milanese and other northern Italian workshops, renowned for producing high-quality, form-fitting armor that balanced mobility and defense. The vambrace's construction highlights maste...