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A work made of steel, gilding, brass, translucent enamel, and leather.

Gorget

1590/1600

French

France

Intended to protect the neck, by the late 16th century the gorget had also become a symbol of rank, as men wore the pieces in civilian contexts as a fashionable allusion to military prowess or status. This example is painted with red and black translucent glass enamel, a rare and fragile decoration that has all but shattered off the fine interlace pattern.

Steel, gilding, brass, translucent enamel, and leather

Applied Arts of Europe