Left Greave and Sabaton
1540/50
Medium
Steel and gilding
Dimensions
H: 81.3 cm (32 in.) Wt: 2.5 lb.
Classification
arms and armor
Department
Applied Arts of Europe
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
116641
Art Historical Context
This elegant left greave and sabaton, crafted by the renowned German armorer Wolfgang Grosschedel around 1540–50, formed part of a suit of armor designed to protect the lower leg and foot. Measuring 81.3 centimeters in height and weighing just 2.5 pounds, the piece demonstrates the remarkable balance of strength and mobility achieved in Renaissance armor-making. Grosschedel, working in the courtly traditions of southern Germany, created armor for European nobility, where technical precision met artistic refinement. The medium of steel, enhanced with gilding, highlights both practical defense ...