Foot-Combat Armor of Prince-Elector Christian I of Saxony (reigned 1586–91)

Anton Peffenhauser

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

This is one of a set of twelve matching armors for use in foot combat commissioned in 1591 by Sophie of Brandenburg as a Christmas gift for her husband, Christian I (reigned 1586–91). These armors are among the last commissions of Anton Peffenhauser, the leading Augsburg armorer during the second half of the sixteenth century. Combat on foot between contestants separated by a waist-high barrier was a popular sport in European courts of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. It could be staged indoors or out and was fought with pikes and swords. A prescribed number of blows was allowed with each weapon. The presence of the barrier and strict rules prohibiting strikes below the belt made leg armor unnecessary.

Arms and Armor

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The principal goals of the Arms and Armor Department are to collect, preserve, research, publish, and exhibit distinguished examples representing the art of the armorer, swordsmith, and gunmaker. Arms and armor have been a vital part of virtually all cultures for thousands of years, pivotal not only in conquest and defense, but also in court pageantry and ceremonial events. Throughout time the best armor and weapons have represented the highest artistic and technical capabilities of the society and period in which they were made, forming a unique aspect of both art history and material culture.

Metropolitan Museum of Art