Artwork preview

Elbow Defense (Couter)

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

The elbow defense, also known as a couter, is a piece of armor made of metal. The metal is silver-colored with darker spots. It consists of three main parts: a top piece, a middle piece covering the elbow, and a bottom piece. The top piece is a short cylinder with a small protrusion on the back and a metal strap with a hole at the top. The middle piece covers the elbow and is shaped like a kidney, with a protruding section on the outside. The bottom piece is a longer cylinder with a strap and rivet at the bottom. The middle piece is attached to the top and bottom pieces with rivets. The background is light gray.

Artwork Details

Date
ca. 1430–60, with later restorations
Medium
Steel, leather
Culture
Italian
Dimensions
390 × 624 px
Public Domain
Yes
Museum Record
View original
Palette