Lot 5382
A late Gothic German horseman's targe with coat of arms, mid-15th century
Arms & Armour, and Antique Firearms | A104aw | Live auction | 1078 Lots
Description
Wooden, concave shield with distinct central ridge and curved edges. On the right a cutout for the insertion of the lance. The linen surface cover fixed with nails and coated with the original colour painting on gesso. On the obverse the coat of arms in white and red, the fields decorated with tendrils. On the reverse four preserved attachment nails for two shield grips. Colour paint alongside the edges partly rubbed off or knocked, isolated minor flaws. Dimensions 51 x 48 cm.Rare type of shield that was used in the 15th century both in horse-mounted combats and jousts. Preserved comparable items can be found, among others, in the collection of the New York Metropolitan Museum (Ascension No. 25.26.1) and in the Philadelphia Museum of Art (Ascension No. 1977-167-742). According to the consignor the shield bears the coat of arms of the Sparneck family, an old Franco-Vogtland knightly noble family recorded with estates in today’s Upper Franconia, Upper Palatinate and Bohemia between 1223 and 1744.Condition: II - Questions about the lot?
