Description
When the elements that made up a suit of armor had been forged, shaped, and polished, they were inspected for fit and finish. At this stage the master armorer would use a punch to stamp each element with his maker's mark. Other associated marks might include a town or guild mark, depending on the city of origin. The set of three marks shown here are of a type known to be Milanese. The upper mark seems to show three letters beneath a crown, while the mark below, twice repeated, is a split cross with the letters inside. These probably refer to the Missaglias.
Provenance
Franz Thill (d. 1903), Vienna, Austria; Frank Gair Macomber (1849-1941), Boston, MA, sold to the Cleveland Museum of Art (-1916); The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (1916-)
Accession Number
1916.2080
Medium
steel
Dimensions
Overall: 21.5 x 25.2 x 14.8 cm (8 7/16 x 9 15/16 x 5 13/16 in.)
Classification
Arms and Armor
Credit Line
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. John L. Severance