← Royal Workshops at Greenwich

Armor Garniture, Probably of King Henry VIII of England (reigned 1509–47)

Original title: Armor Garniture, Probably of King Henry VIII of England (reigned 1509–47)

Artist

Royal Workshops at Greenwich

Date

dated 1527

Medium

Steel, gold, leather, copper alloys

Dimensions

Overall H. 73 in. (185.4 cm); Wt. 62 lb. 12 oz. (28.45 kg); reinforcing breastplate (19.131.1h) and lance rest (19.131.1t): combined Wt. 7 lb. 5.3 oz. (3324 g); reinforcing abdominal plate (19.131.1u): Wt. 2 lb. 10.6 oz. (1206 g)

Credit line

Purchase, William H. Riggs Gift and Rogers Fund, 1919

kurzbeschreibung

A full armour garniture, probably made for King Henry VIII of England, was produced in the Royal Workshops at Greenwich and is dated 1527. Fashioned from steel, gold, leather and copper alloys, it covers the entire body: helmet, shoulder defences, breastplate, arms, legs and hands.

Description

Metal, presumably steel, overlaid with gold gives the armour a splendid and precious appearance. Numerous individual pieces combine into a full-body covering, including helmet, shoulder defences, breastplate, arms, legs and hands. On the surface are detailed ornaments as well as signs of weathering and ageing that point to historical use. A wooden stand supports and stabilises the piece and sets it off, while the neutral, single-colour background draws the eye to the object.

Context

Made in the Royal Workshops at Greenwich, renowned for their high-quality armour, the garniture bears the date 1527 — a time when Henry VIII was actively renewing and expanding his military equipment. It probably served for both tournament and war and reflects the king's claim to representation and power.

Impact

Steel and gold together create an impressive presence that conveys both protection and royal splendour. The detailed workmanship and traces of age give the armour an aura of historical authenticity and make it a fascinating testament to Renaissance armourers' art.

Technique

Made of steel and covered with gold, the armour demanded elaborate decorative technique. The individual parts were probably shaped by forging and raising, then assembled and supplemented with leather and copper alloys for movable joints.

AI-generated description text

Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)