The Lion armour
Dates from about 1550 | Italian | Object number: II.89
This is the finest decorated armour in the Royal Armouries collection. It was possibly made for King Henri II of France.
Did you know?
It was probably once part of a small garniture with interchangeable pieces for the field and tournament.
- The helmet is marked with sword cuts possibly received in a tourney.
- Armour of this magnificence would have been an outward symbol of its owner’s great wealth, rank and taste.
- It is unclear when this armour was first brought to England.
- The armour appeared in a number of 17th century English portraits, especially those by the painter John Michael Wright.
The lion armour
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