Gorget
1620/50
Medium
Steel, brass, gilding, and leather
Classification
suit-element
Department
Applied Arts of Europe
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
116372
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
Light cavalrymen and officers on foot increasingly wore large gorgets in place of full breast and backplates. Often paired with a heavy buff-leather coat, these effectively protected the wearer’s neck and heart from heavy sword cuts or thrusts. This well-preserved example retains its original blue-black finish and leather lining.
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...