Harness garnished with gold & pants of silk: The extravagant armour of the nobility of Medieval England Seminar

Abstract:

'They have a helmet of gold worth £40’ raged one Dominican preacher against vainglorious knights, yet ‘when in flight from their foes, they fling away, so that they may flee the faster!’ Glasgow Museums holds one of the finest collections of medieval armour and weapons. These are, in some sense, denuded of the finery that would have bedecked them – sumptuous materials and precious metals. Material culture from this collection and others – as well as artwork – can, it will be shown, be studied in tandem with documentary evidence such as inventories and household accounts to provide a fuller understanding of the fine harness of the warrior elite of Christendom.

As always, refreshments will be provided and all are welcome!