Pair of Gauntlets from a Garniture of Armor of Philip II of Spain (reigned 1556–98)
Medium
Steel, leather, gold
Dimensions
Gauntlet (a); H. 10 in. (25.5 cm); W. 4 3/4 in. (12 cm); D. 5 in. (12.7 cm); Wt. 1 lb. 1 oz. (475 g); gauntlet (b); H. 10 in. (25.5 cm); W. 4 3/4 in. (12 cm); D. 5 in. (12.7 cm); Wt. 16 oz. (439 g)
Classification
Armor Parts-Gauntlets
Culture
German, Augsburg
Department
Arms and Armor
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of William H. Riggs, 1913
Accession Number
14.25.901a, b
Art Historical Context
These exquisite gauntlets, crafted in1546 by the master armorers Ulrich Holzmann Desiderius Helmsmid of Augsburg, Germany, formed part of a grand garniture—a versatile suit of armor—commissioned for the future Philip II of Spain, would reign from 1556 to 1598. Augsburg was a renowned hub for Renaissance armor-making, where artisans like the Helmschmid family German engineering prowess with Italianate elegance, producing pieces that were both battlefield-ready and symbols of royal prestige. Forged from steel with leather linings and gilded accents, the gauntlets measure about 10 inches high an...