FINE VICTORIAN COPY OF A RENAISSANCE IRON SHIELD

Iron, circular, 21 1/2‰۝ diameter. Domed form with rolled edge and sunk border with two concentric rows of rivets. Conical central umbo bordered in rivets. The field decorated in relief with a continuous battle scene of classical warriors on foot and mounted. Numerous individual conflicts with fallen warriors and horses and active hand to hand fighting. Finely hand chased in intricate detail with excellent patina. These were copied directly from originals in royal and public collections, though the inspiration for this example is unidentified. A closely similar example is #A321 in the Wallace Collection identified as French or Flemish C.1570. Reverse with suspension for wall hanging.