Mail Shirt
1550/75
Medium
Steel, iron, and brass
Dimensions
At shoulders: W.: 67.3 cm (26 1/2 in.); H.: 91.4 cm (36 in.)
Classification
suit-element
Department
Applied Arts of Europe
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
106382
Art Historical Context
Step into the riveting world of 16th-century European armor with this exquisite *Mail Shirt*, crafted around 1550–75 by an unknown master armorer. Made from thousands of interlinked rings of steel, iron, and brass, it measures an imposing 91.4 cm in height and 67.3 cm across the shoulders—perfectly sized for a Renaissance warrior. Housed in the Art Institute of Chicago's Department of Applied Arts of Europe and classified as a suit-element, this piece exemplifies the fusion of functionality and artistry in medieval protective gear. During the Renaissance, when plate armor dominated battlefiel...
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...