V&A: Making a Copy of a Mitten Gauntlet

Karen Larsdatter · Post by **Karen Larsdatter** » Sun Mar 08, 2009 10:35 am

http://www.flickr.com/photos/medievalandrenaissance/sets/72157609629607470/

These photographs focus on the production of a copy of a mitten gauntlet for the new Medieval and Renaissance Galleries that visitors will be able to try on.

The orginal was made between 1510â€“30 in Germany. It is fully articulated, so that it would fit like a glove, enabling its wearer to keep a firm grip on his weapon even in the heat of combat.

Across the knuckles, a roped ridge provides great defensive strength, while the fingers are protected by a series of overlapping plates.

Jon Terris · Post by **Jon Terris** » Sun Mar 08, 2009 11:44 am

Some very rare pictures of Master M at work :shock:

Thanks for the link!

JonT

Roibeard MacNeill · Post by **Roibeard MacNeill** » Mon Mar 09, 2009 11:18 am

Very, Very nice indeed! Good to see excellent repro work such as this...especially for sheer inspiration since I will be tackling these gauntlets as soon as my new workspace in completed.

http://www.allenantiques.com/A-99.html

wcallen · Post by **wcallen** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 4:31 pm

These are a lot like the one being copied:

http://www.allenantiques.com/A-104.html

They represent a very simple form of the early 16th c. gauntlet. Kind of fun. Nice to see the copy of the V&A one.

My 'pair' (not a pair at all, but 2 similar ones) have some nice thumb plates at least on one of them.

Before you copy my other pair, let's see if we can arrange a way for you to handle them in person. That can help a lot.

Wade

Jason Grimes · Post by **Jason Grimes** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 5:06 pm

That is a very unique thumb plate on that gauntlet you posted Wade. Very cool. Where do you find these things?

wcallen · Post by **wcallen** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 12:26 pm

Just lucky I guess. I was talking with another collector and he had these gauntlets for sale. He got them as part of a very composed suit and was willing to part with the gauntlets.

Actually the gauntlets were the part I liked the most, so I was lucky. The thumbs just happened to be part of these gauntlets. There are a lot of problems with the gauntlets, but the thumbs are a lot of fun. The fact that they are not a pair is actually part of what makes them good study pieces. Not so good as collectible, but great for study. One of them really is nice. It shows how much they were willing to work to make the gauntlets look cool.

I found a nice gauntlet with original fingers recently, but someone else wanted to pay more than I did, so I didn't get it.

Wade

Roibeard MacNeill · Post by **Roibeard MacNeill** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 1:48 pm

wcallen wrote:These are a lot like the one being copied:

http://www.allenantiques.com/A-104.html

They represent a very simple form of the early 16th c. gauntlet. Kind of fun. Nice to see the copy of the V&A one.

My 'pair' (not a pair at all, but 2 similar ones) have some nice thumb plates at least on one of them.

Before you copy my other pair, let's see if we can arrange a way for you to handle them in person. That can help a lot.

Wade

That would rock. Seriously. Thanks a million!

I'm going to make the first pair modified slightly for SCA combat...but the second pair I make I would love to see the original first.

wcallen · Post by **wcallen** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 6:02 pm

Hmm. 'MA' - probably Mass. That is a little far up, but I will be at the Baltimore Arms fair March 21 and 22. That is part way in between.

http://www.baltimoreshow.com/

If anyone wants to play with some specific piece and will be wandering by there, I can bring a few extra pieces to show. Gauntlets are pretty small and portable.

Wade

sha-ul · Post by **sha-ul** » Thu Mar 12, 2009 2:32 pm

Jon Terris wrote:Some very rare pictures of Master M at work

Thanks for the link!

JonT

Who is this working?

Jon Terris · Post by **Jon Terris** » Thu Mar 12, 2009 5:02 pm

sha-ul wrote:
Who is this working?

Master M or Emrys is a highly respected armourer here in the UK, he seems to be a bit of a secret but his stuff is top quality. Thoroughly nice bloke too!

JonT

wcallen · Post by **wcallen** » Thu Mar 12, 2009 6:07 pm

Very nice guy. I spent several hours with him and a few other people playing with some of the pieces in the Wallace while the rooms were closed.

A great time all around.

Wade

Roibeard MacNeill · Post by **Roibeard MacNeill** » Fri Mar 13, 2009 1:15 pm

wcallen wrote:Hmm. 'MA' - probably Mass. That is a little far up, but I will be at the Baltimore Arms fair March 21 and 22. That is part way in between.

http://www.baltimoreshow.com/

If anyone wants to play with some specific piece and will be wandering by there, I can bring a few extra pieces to show. Gauntlets are pretty small and portable.

Wade

If I wasn't going to Gulf Wars in Mississippi I would take you up on that offer. I will definitely keep in touch concerning this, though...