Artwork preview

Right Leg Defense (Greave)

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Two long, curved metal pieces with intricate designs and patterns. The pieces are made of dark-colored metal, possibly steel or iron, with a silver-colored design. The designs feature floral patterns, geometric shapes, and Arabic calligraphy. Each piece has a cylindrical top with a flat edge and a narrower bottom that tapers to a point. The pieces have a series of strips and rivets on the sides. A chainmail section is attached to the bottom of each piece. The background is white. The pieces appear to be a pair of leg armor, specifically greaves. They are attributed to Right Leg Defense, Greave, and the artist is not visually identifiable from the image.

Artwork details

Date:
late 15th–early 16th century
Medium:
Steel, iron, silver, gold, tin, leather
Culture:
Turkish, Istanbul (?)
Dimensions:
599 × 470 px
Museum record:
View original
Palette