Artwork Page for Pauldron for Right shoulder

Details / Information for Pauldron for Right shoulder

Pauldron for Right shoulder

c. 1560–70

Italy, 16th century

Medium
steel, blued and gilded
Measurements
Overall: 26.4 x 28 cm (10 3/8 x 11 in.)
Weight: 1.32 kg (2.91 lbs.)
Credit Line
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. John L. Severance 1916.1528
Public Domain
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Location
210A Armor Court
Print
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Did You Know?

A pauldron is a component of plate armor that covers the shoulder and often the armpit, and parts of the back and chest as well.

Description

This element for the shoulder once belonged to a suit decorated by the bluing technique, a process of superheating armor plates to achieve a deep blue color. Bluing required heating to at least 590 degrees Fahrenheit, the temperature at which oxidation occurs. Although the original color is now darkened it would have originally been a deep shade of blue. It was further enhanced with gilding to create additional contrast for a refined appearance.
Overlapping plates of blued steel form a rounded shoulder defense, narrowing toward the left. Parallel ridges ripple across the mottled, blue-gray surface, interspersed with rows of gilded rivets that punctuate the seams. At the base, the metal sweeps into a wide, rounded curve, highlighting the piece's rhythmic construction. Light catches the textured finish, revealing a metallic sheen that contrasts with the glint of gold accents tracing the dark shell.

Pauldron for Right shoulder

c. 1560–70

Italy, 16th century

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