[Alexander Hinman]

Friday the 23rd, at around 2:00, I entered the Walters Museum in Baltimore with the hopes of seeing their exhibit on Novgorod, which held many of the artifacts I had wanted to see for a number of years. They were all very interesting, but one particular piece caught my eye. An early 14th c icon of the life of St. George. What was particularly impressive about this icon was that there were three different styles of armour presented in it, as opposed to the usual generic scale armour seen in most.

This icon showed a full-body suit of lamellar, and two different types of scale. One was commonly shown, smaller, almost pointed scales while the other was larger, more sparsely shown, rounder scales. The latter might be the 'embossed scale cuirass' talked about in Osprey's Medieval Russian Armies 1250-1500, but I'm not sure. In any case, I found the lamellar suit to be interesting, but it was only shown in one frame of his life, when soldiers were sent to capture him. Sadly, there was no photography allowed in the exhibit, so I can't give you folks a good look.

They also had a collection of 'Islamic Arms and Armour' many of which I've uploaded into the User Submitted Museum Photos album, and they also had a suit of Maxmillian plate, a Pavise, and, strangely enough, a suit of armour that looks to be early-mid 15th c, but has, I think, a 16th c helm.

I also found a dagger with a handle similar to that of Sean's home-made rondel, though more exaggerated in this case.

And a pair of swords, on the right a hand-and-a-half sword that I can't really identify, and the other a single-hand sword that resembles a Knight with a decayed, flat diamond cross section and a different pommel.

[Bill Grandy]

Wow, I never knew about this exhibit! Thanks for posting, I need to swing by there!

[Alexander Hinman]

Most of it is in their permanent collection, and it's tucked away quite neatly. Takes some wandering to find. It's just the Novgorod bit that's a temporary exhibit.

Another image, a wooden statue of St. George wielding what I can only call a sword/mace. It makes me feel slightly less critical of people who thought swords weighed 8 lbs. Only slightly, though. *grin*

[Bill Grandy]

Very cool. Have you been to the American Indian museum yet? If not, you may be in for a surprise. They have a really, really nice collection up on the fourth floor of arms brought over by the Conquistadors. Several drop-dead gorgeous rapiers, and even a few two handed swords as well. I was quite surprised to see it.

[Steve Grisetti]

[Hisham Gaballa]

I've just been perusing the pictures you uploaded to the Museum Album. Exellent work, thanks for sharing them. I'll have to add the Walters Museum to my list of "Places I must visit some day".

Edit:
Any chance you might upload bigger pictures of the Turkish krugs (disc cuirasses)? They are one of my all time favorite armours.

Speaking of which, did they have any Russian krugs in the exhibition?

[Alexander Hinman]

I do have one picture zoomed-up on the cuirass disc, but it's pretty ugly. Bad lighting and all that. Still, it's worth a gander. I got some nice detailing

As for Russian versions, sadly no.

Though I do wonder, Hisham, if you've ever seen swords like the 'eared' or 'winged' khanjars before. Were they at all common? The example I put up, at least, was highly decorated. The Khanjar, along with two other pictures, I accidentally sent to the 'antique arms and armor' section, and they can be seen there.

[Hisham Gaballa]

[Alexander Hinman]

Whoops! I meant yataghans. I get the names confused far too often for my own good. Thanks for the correction. *slaps forehead*