Gorget
1590/1600
Medium
Steel, gilding, brass, translucent enamel, and leather
Dimensions
H.: 22.9 cm (9 in.)
Classification
arms and armor
Department
Applied Arts of Europe
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
106378
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
Intended to protect the neck, by the late 16th century the gorget had also become a symbol of rank, as men wore the pieces in civilian contexts as a fashionable allusion to military prowess or status. This example is painted with red and black translucent glass enamel, a rare and fragile decoration that has all but shattered off the fine interlace pattern.
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...