Master Armourer Chris Dobson

Late 16th Century North Italian Gauntlets for a Boy

This pair of gauntlets is based upon a pair for an adult in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, late 16th Century, North Italian, probably Milan. By this period it was common for children to take part in tournaments, and there are a number of surviving complete armours for children for the foot combat at the barriers, for which this pair would be appropriate, although there are no technical differences between this pair and a pair designed for field use. These gauntlets are fitted with specially-made gloves and trimmed with velvet pickadils.

Children's armours were a very particular example of the ostentatious display of wealth by the parents, as children would grow out of armour very quickly. These gauntlets are made for a boy of about six or seven years old.

Made 1999 and purchased by the National Army Museum, London, for their public handling collection in 2000.