Italy, Milan / c. 1485–1500
Gothic Fan-Shaped Pauldron (right)
The Cleveland Museum of Art catalogs Gothic Fan-Shaped Pauldron (right) as arms and armor (Italy, Milan · c. 1485–1500).
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.
A CLOSER LOOK
The museum identifies this arms and armor as steel and credits Antonio Missaglia (Italian, 1416/17–1495/96).
The museum's collection notes: 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.
FOLLOW THE EVIDENCE
The Cleveland Museum of ArtGothic Fan-Shaped Pauldron (right)Original explanation based on the sources above. Images carry their own reuse terms.