The article discussed eleven works of art with images of the most prominent men of the Duchy of Pomerania, shown in suits of armour, which were among the most impressive types of wear of the epoch. All the images are reliefs, ten of them carved in stone (Figures 1–4, 6–11; Catalogue no. 1–4, 6–11) and one in wood (Fig. 5a–5b; Cat. no. 5). Three are foundation plaques (Fig. 1–2, 8; Cat. no. 1–2, 8), seven are tombstones (Fig. 3–4, 6–7, 9–11; Cat. no. 3–4, 6–7, 9–11) and one is an epitaph (Fig. 5a–5b; Cat. no. 5). Three show dukes of Pomerania (Fig. 1–2, 5a–5b; Cat. no. 1–2, 5) and eight — Pomeranian nobles (Fig. 3–4, 6–11; Cat. no. 3–4, 6–11). Eight have survived until today (Fig. 1–3, 7–11; Cat. no. 1–3, 7–11), while the remaining three are known from archival photographs (Fig. 4–6; Cat. no. 4–6). All were intended for places treated as family memorials, such as residences or churches. Of the surviving reliefs five remain in their original locations (Fig. 3, 8–11; Cat. no. 3, 8–11) and three have been transferred (Fig. 1–2, 7; Cat. no. 1–2, 7). The images discussed in this article provide a starting point for research on plate armour in Pomerania in the early decades of the 16th century. All the figures are shown in plate armour with a deep–bellied breastplate, some of them in the most characteristic richly decorated Maximilian suits of armour, which reflected the men’s fashion of the time. Maximilian armour is depicted in four of the cases analysed (Cat. no. 1–3, 6). Another type of armour used at the time had similarly harmonious proportions but was plain (Cat. no. 4, 7–11). The first one of these has a tucked skirt. One of the reliefs shows a costume suit of armour (Cat. no. 5). The analysed iconographic sources bring valuable data on historical armour. The plate armour in the epitaph of Duke Boguslaw X is represented in such detail that it was possible to compare it with a costume suit of armour preserved in Deutsche Historisches Museum in Berlin (inventory no. W 2327) and to conclude that the latter is the armour that used to belong to the Pomeranian Duke and was brought to Berlin in 1731 by King Frederic William I of Prussia.
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May 22, 2021
Chunan Du + 3
Open Access