Three-Quarter Field Armor of Anime Construction
Medium
Steel and leather
Dimensions
H.: 124.5 cm (49 in.)
Classification
suit
Department
Applied Arts of Europe
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
106284
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
This armor is complete with a breast and backplate called an anime that is entirely composed of overlapping segments (lames) held together by rivets and internal leather bands. During the mid-16th century a new form of lightly armored horseman developed, armed with pistols rather than the traditional lance. These cavalrymen often favored this segmented design as it offered more flexibility across the chest to ride comfortably and reload their weapons. An open-faced helmet also helped aiming. The...