Left Arm Defense (Vambrace) MET DP-12882-028

Vambraces (

French French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents ** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with Franc ...

: ''avant-bras'', sometimes known as ''lower cannons'' in the Middle Ages) or forearm guards are ''tubular'' or ''gutter'' defences for the forearm worn as part of a suit of

plate armour Plate armour is a historical type of personal body armour made from bronze, iron, or steel plates, culminating in the iconic suit of armour entirely encasing the wearer. Full plate steel armour developed in Europe during the Late Middle Ages, ...

that were often connected to gauntlets. Vambraces may be worn with or without separate ''

couter The couter (also spelled "cowter") is the defense for the elbow in a piece of plate armour. Initially just a curved piece of metal A metal (from ancient Greek, Greek μέταλλον ''métallon'', "mine, quarry, metal") is a material tha ...

s'' in a full suit of medieval armour. The term originates in the early 14th century. They were made from either

boiled leather Boiled leather, often referred to by its French translation, cuir bouilli (), was a historical material common in the Middle Ages and Early Modern Period and used for various purposes. It was leather that had been treated so that it became tough ...

or steel. Leather vambraces were sometimes reinforced with longitudinal strips of hardened hide or metal, creating

splinted armour Splint armour (also splinted armour, splint armor, or splinted armor) is armour consisting of strips of metal ("splints") attached to a cloth or leather backing. It is most commonly found as limb armour such as greaves or vambraces. Description ...

External links

The Armour Archive
examples and construction information for replica vambraces
Metal vambrace with integrated elbow and upper arm protection
(replica) Medieval armour Western plate armour History of clothing (Western fashion) Armwear {{medieval-armour-stub

See also

External links