Page:A record of European armour and arms through seven centuries (Volume 2).djvu/275

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in which the bouche de la lance is the principal feature. Both are of the usual medium of wood covered with parchment, gesso, etc. The more important of the two has painted in the centre the figure of a girl seated with scroll behind her, inscribed ·i·w·i·m···r·t·n· (Ich wart im garten) (Fig. 597). The second shield has a close arrangement of oak and other foliage occupying the whole surface and rendered in slight relief (Fig. 598). In both shields the rivets that hold the arm straps in position are put at an obtuse angle to the top of the shield.

Fig. 601. Shield of painted wood

German, late XVth century No. 338, Wallace Collection

Fig. 602. From an illuminated MS.

English, early XIVth century A fabulous monster-man armed with a sword and kite-shaped shield. Collection: Author

A shield of the same form but beautifully forged of bright steel is also in the Imperial Armoury at Vienna (Fig. 599). The surface is enriched with German etching of fine style, introducing among other subjects the heads of children representing the winds, and a figure of death which is