Pair of Greaves (Lower Leg Defenses)
Unknown Artist
ca. 1450, with later restorations
Medium
Steel, leather
Dimensions
Greave (a): H. 14 3/4 in. (37.5 cm); W. 4 3/4 in. (12.1 cm); D. 5 1/2 in. (14 cm); Wt. 1 lb. 9.7 oz. (728.6 g); greave (b): H. 14 1/4 in. (36.2 cm); W. 5 in. (12.7 cm); D. 5 3/8 in. (13.7 cm); Wt. 1 lb. 12.7 oz. (813.6 g)
Classification
Armor Parts-Greaves
Culture
Italian
Department
Arms and Armor
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bashford Dean Memorial Collection, Funds from various donors, 1929
Accession Number
29.158.282a, b
Art Historical Context
Step into the clangor of 15th-century Italy with this pair of greaves, sleek steel defenses crafted around 1450 to shield a warrior's shins and ankles from battlefield blows. Worn as essential components of full plate armor, these leg guards exemplify the peak of Renaissance armoring techniques, where Italian craftsmen balanced formidable protection with ergonomic design. Measuring about 14 inches tall and weighing just over 3 pounds together, their lightweight yet robust steel construction allowed knights and men-at-arms remarkable mobility during jousts, sieges, or the era's frequent skirmis...