16TH CENTURY DUELLING GAUNTLET MAIL PIECE

CENTRAL EUROPEAN c. 1550–1600

An extremely rare mail piece for a duelling gauntlet made of wedge-riveted flat rings. This would be part of a left-hand gauntlet if used on the inside of the gauntlet for grabbling the opponent’s blade, or for the right hand if it was covering the top of a duelling leather gauntlet. A similar example is found in the Boston Museum of Fine Arts (44.449a-b) and in the Royal Armouries (III1440).

• Length 42 cm
• Weight 270 g