Synopses & Reviews
Since its publication over 70 years ago, this classic reference work has been a standard in the field. It illuminates in masterly fashion every aspect of the armorer's craft during the approximately five centuries it flourished in Europe.
Valiant deeds performed by knights in armor have long been a staple of medieval life and lore; seldom, however, has a book offered such a meticulously detailed and thorough discussion of the armor itself: how it was made, what materials and tools were used, how it was decorated, cleaned and maintained, who were the great craftsmen, how the wearer put on his suit of armor, how he was able to move and joust in it, how much it weighed, how much it cost and much, much more.
Not only does the author describe many types of armor, he also analyzes and evaluates the products of individual armorers and entire periods from the standpoint of effectiveness, convenience, construction methods, decoration, and other aspects.
Enhancing the text are 69 line illustrations and 32 photographs depicting men in armor, suits of armor and objects related to the armorer's craft, along with two pages of reproductions of armorer's marks. Also included are fascinating excerpts from actual medieval documents dealing with armor, and a comprehensive polyglot glossary of armor terms.
Indispensable for medievalists, students of arms and armor, historians, or anyone interested in the protective battle gear worn by warriors of old, this carefully researched study offers a rich source of authenticated fact and historic documentation.
Synopsis
Standard reference offers comprehensive, detailed record of 500 years of European armor — manufacture, materials, tools, cost, weight, and more. Over 100 illustrations. Bibliography.