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
Museum record:
View original
Palette