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Pair of Thigh Defenses (Cuisses) with Knee Defenses (Poleyns)

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Two metal thigh defenses, also known as cuisses, and knee defenses, also known as poleyns. The cuisses are long and curved, tapering slightly towards the bottom, made of dark metal with a smooth surface and a slight sheen, featuring an etched design of stars with several pointed rays. The cuisses have a slight bend near the bottom and a wider section at the top. The poleyns are positioned at the bottom of the cuisses, shaped like a kidney or a half-moon, made of the same dark metal as the cuisses, with a similar etched design of stars. The background is a plain light gray color, with the two pieces of armor positioned side by side. The cuisses and poleyns appear to be made of steel or iron, with a weathered appearance and visible signs of wear. The etched star design on the cuisses and poleyns consists of 8-10 pointed rays. The metal has a dark brown patina with areas of lighter gray and black. The overall shape of the cuisses and poleyns suggests they were designed to provide protection for the thighs and knees.

Artwork Details

Date
ca. 1590
Medium
Steel
Culture
Italian, Milan or Brescia
Dimensions
500 × 625 px
Public Domain
Yes
Museum Record
View original
Palette