16th Century Target/Rotella Padding -- myArmoury.com

Dan Rosen

Hello!

The search function is providing me with a myriad of vague or disconnected results, and so I was wondering if anyone had any images stowed of handles/grips, padding, or straps from the backs of 16th century targets.

Thank you!

-Dan

Sean Flynt · Posted: Thu 11 Jul, 2013 12:23 pm Post subject:

Search Google images for "Marozzo" and you'll be able to see multiple interior drawings of targets.

Vincent Le Chevalier · Posted: Thu 11 Jul, 2013 1:13 pm Post subject:

Also this image from Lovino. There is another plate but it's hard to find a legible image of it...

Regards,

Bjorn Hagstrom · Posted: Wed 15 Jan, 2014 11:05 pm Post subject:

Old topic, but I am curious..would those round shields from the Marozzo illustration be of wooden construction, or out of steel? Or something else entirely?

Stephen Curtin · Posted: Thu 16 Jan, 2014 2:02 am Post subject:

Bjorn Hagstrom · Posted: Thu 16 Jan, 2014 2:48 am Post subject:

Mart Shearer · Posted: Thu 16 Jan, 2014 5:57 am Post subject:

I think some of the lantern shields in the Tower are steel over wood.

Radovan Geist · Posted: Thu 16 Jan, 2014 8:36 am Post subject:

some of there are also in Vienna, they look like all-steel:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/98015679@N04/936...4787266045
http://www.flickr.com/photos/98015679@N04/936...4787266045
http://www.flickr.com/photos/98015679@N04/936...4787266045
etc

Sam Gordon Campbell · Posted: Thu 16 Jan, 2014 9:28 pm Post subject:

As I understand it, both the rotella/rodela/targe[t] could be made of both steel and wood, or at times both.

They were slightly convex, certainly far less so than the aspis (hoplon) they were possibly based on (Renaissance = Classical Revival Style).

All steel backed with suede to muffle the clanking sound about right. As for wood, I think they were often covered with leather (pig I think), the wood was two layers of planked construction pegged together (although hide glue could be used). Reinforcing it with iron (as was done on some bucklers) wouldn't be that far of a jump. Painting them is also an option.

The strap appears to be of broad leather (far more so than a belt) and either closed by buckle or cords, whilst the grip could either be metal or rawhide with possibly a wooden core (so good luck trying to grip a dirk or dart). Both could be "stapled" or riveted to the shield.

Proportionately they could be, it seems, anything from a mans forearm to a "shoulder-to-knee" in size.

Putting a gun or spike in the centre is optional.

So yeah, that about all I know as I understand them.

Bjorn Hagstrom · Posted: Thu 16 Jan, 2014 10:29 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the linked pics, nice examples of steel ones. With that decoration, they look almost Ottoman/Persian (where it seems a lot of aesthetic influences where coming in the 16th century contintental Europe, right?)

I found a few examples on this excellent pinterest board:

http://www.pinterest.com/mothemelusine/decora...ance-euro/

They all seem to be labeled as made of wood.. Mind you also as parade items, with nice paint-jobs. They seem to be quite deeply dished, so perhaps thin steamed and glued slats over a form have been used to make a plywood construction?

Stephen Curtin · Posted: Fri 17 Jan, 2014 3:10 am Post subject:

Thanks for sharing this Bjorn, great collection of images.