Pavise (Archer’s Shield)
- Culture
- Swiss
- Date
- before 1467
- made in
- Switzerland, Europe
- Classification
- Arms & armor, wood
- Collection
- Decorative Arts and Design
- Current Location
- Not on view
- Dimensions
- 41 x 17 1/8 x 4 3/4 in. (104.1 x 43.5 x 12.1 cm)
weight: 11 lb. 4 oz. (5.1 kg) - Credit Line
- Museum Purchase
- Rights
- Public Domain
- Object Number
- 94:1932
NOTES
Shields are among the oldest forms of defensive armor. They were part of a knight's equipment until full plate armor was adopted by the 15th century. Less well-equipped knights and other troops continued to use shields for a longer time. On the battlefield, the pavise (a shield often used by archers) could be set vertically against a support and was large enough that a foot soldier could crouch behind it while readying the bow.
Provenance
- 1932
Count von Erbach, Erbach, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
1932 -
Saint Louis Art Museum, purchased from Count von Erbach through Arnold Seligmann, Rey & Co., Inc., at auction "Gräflich Erbach'sche Waffensammlung aus dem Rittersaal zu Erbach im Odenwald," Galerie Fischer, Lucerne, Switzerland, September 6-7, 1932, lot no. 49 [1]
Notes:
[1] According to the Arnold Seligmann, Rey & Co., Inc. invoice dated October 1, 1932 [SLAM document files], 94:1932 was purchased on behalf of the Museum at the Count Erbach sale "Gräflich Erbach'sche Waffensammlung aus dem Rittersaal zu Erbach im Odenwald" held at Galerie Fischer in Lucerne, Switzerland, on September 6-7, 1932. The pavise entered the auction as lot no. 49. It was entered into the Museum's Accession Log on October 6, 1932 [Saint Louis Art Museum Accession Log, Archives, Saint Louis Art Museum].
Count von Erbach, Erbach, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
1932 -
Saint Louis Art Museum, purchased from Count von Erbach through Arnold Seligmann, Rey & Co., Inc., at auction "Gräflich Erbach'sche Waffensammlung aus dem Rittersaal zu Erbach im Odenwald," Galerie Fischer, Lucerne, Switzerland, September 6-7, 1932, lot no. 49 [1]
Notes:
[1] According to the Arnold Seligmann, Rey & Co., Inc. invoice dated October 1, 1932 [SLAM document files], 94:1932 was purchased on behalf of the Museum at the Count Erbach sale "Gräflich Erbach'sche Waffensammlung aus dem Rittersaal zu Erbach im Odenwald" held at Galerie Fischer in Lucerne, Switzerland, on September 6-7, 1932. The pavise entered the auction as lot no. 49. It was entered into the Museum's Accession Log on October 6, 1932 [Saint Louis Art Museum Accession Log, Archives, Saint Louis Art Museum].
We regularly update records, which may be incomplete. If you have additional information, please contact us at provenance@slam.org.