Chainmail, anonymous, c. 1400 - c. 1499

forging, l c.70cm × w c.82cm × h 1.8cm × w 11.4kg More details

Medieval soldiers wore chainmail made of iron rings linked together, which protected them from swords or other pointed weapons. A cuirass or a thick leather jacket was often worn over the chainmail. The disadvantage of these protective layers was that they were so heavy that they restricted the soldier’s freedom of movement. This chainmail weighs more than 11 kilos.