Fußturnierharnisch

This armour was designed for a type of foot combat that became very popular in the late Renaissance and the early Baroque. Opponents faced each other across a barrier and, armed with swords or pikes, exchanged a predetermined number of blows. This type of tournament could be held both out in the open or indoors. A combatant aimed solely at his opponent’s head (or rather his helmet), trying to splinter a thin lance or land a blow with his sword. This made leg armour obsolete, unlike earlier types of foot combat where the participants had faced each other in a cordoned-off arena (see inv. A 474b).

Other parts of the body were given extra protection – here, for example, the crook of the arms, which was technically quite challenging. The bottom edge of the close helmet has a hollow roping to rotate over the gorget-plate and can only be moved along this edge; this ensured that the opponent’s sword could not accidentally slide under the helmet. The visor, too, was reinforced as it received the majority of the blows.

The entire surface of the armour is covered with damascene work in gold and silver; the decoration comprises a net of quatrefoil windows with garlands, trophies, and medallions featuring knights and ladies. It bears the mark of the anonymous Master I.O. on both breastplate and backplate.

The armour was probably made for Archduke (later Emperor) Ferdinand II, perhaps in connection with the festivities marking his marriage to Maria Anna of Bavaria celebrated in April 1600 at Graz.