Fingered Gauntlet for the Right Hand
c. 1580/1600
Medium
Steel and leather
Dimensions
H.: 34.9 cm (13 3/4 in.)
Classification
suit-gauntlet
Department
Applied Arts of Europe
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
116480
Art Historical Context
This Fingered Gauntlet for the Right Hand, dating from around 1580 to 1600, is a finely crafted example of late Renaissance European armor. Made of steel and leather by an unknown artisan, it measures 34.9 cm in height and belongs to the Art Institute of Chicago’s Applied Arts of Europe collection. As a suit-gauntlet, it formed an essential part of a complete plate-armor ensemble, protecting the hand while allowing individual finger movement. In this era, armorers achieved remarkable skill in shaping and articulating steel plates to follow the hand’s natural contours, combining defensive stre...
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...