Mail Shirt

Western European; probably German

suit-elementarmor

Date

1550/75

Medium

Steel, iron, and brass

Dimensions

At shoulders: W.: 67.3 cm (26 1/2 in.); H.: 91.4 cm (36 in.)

Museum

Art Institute of Chicago

Location

Chicago, IL

Credit

George F. Harding Collection

Tailored to fit a sizable man, this mail shirt has heavier rings placed strategically to protect the neck and chest. The form-fitting sleeves billow out over the elbow to increase mobility. Shirts like this could have been used for fencing practice or worn for protection from bandits or assassins while traveling.

Also notable

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Portrait of a Young Artist

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