Skip to main content

Couter: M.1.7B-1936

An image of Couter

Terms of use

These images are provided for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons License (BY-NC-ND). To license a high resolution version, please contact our image library who will discuss fees, terms and waivers.

Download this image

Creative commons explained - what it means, how you can use our's and other people's content.

Alternative views

Object information

Current Location: In storage

Maker(s)

Production: Unknown

Entities

Categories

Description

Couter for the right elbow, for parade use, with 'puffed-and-slashed' decoration in imitation of civilian costume. Formed of a single, shell-like plate, open at the rear and strongly shaped to the point of the elbow. Its outer edge is straight. Its upper and lower edges are convex and converge at the inside of the elbow in a strong, medial pucker. The upper and lower edges have partial inward turns accompanied by recessed borders decorated with etched and gilt tulip-like flower heads on a cross-hatched ground separated by broad bands enclosed by pairs of narrower bands. The boss over the elbow is enclosed by a pair of raised ribs that converge to the inside of the elbow. Each rib is decorated with etched diagonal bands that are alternatively hatched and gilt, and plain. The remainder of the couter, with the exception of its inner and outer ends is decorated with slender, vertical, recessed 'slashes' in imitation of those found on contemporary costume. The slashes on the upper and lower wings are slightly recurved, while those on the central boss are curved or straight. The front and rear of the central boss are each pierced with a rivet-hole for the attachment of the missing pair of vertical internal leathers that formerly connected the couter to the upper and lower cannons of the vambrace. The outer end of the couter is pierced with a pair of widely-spaced rivet-holes for the attachment of a missing bifurcated strap that terminated in a buckle to receive the missing strap that was formerly attached by a rivet occupying a now vacant hole located just to the inside of the medial pucker, and passed around the rear of the elbow. Together with M.1.7A-1936

Notes

History note: From the armoury of the Princes Radziwill, Niescwiez Castle, Poland, sold as from the 'Armoury of a Russian [sic] Prince', Christies, London, 29 March 1926, lot 65 (together with M.1.7A-1936). Mrs E. W. Stead and Mr Gilbert Stead of Dalston Hall, Cumberland

Legal notes

Given by Mrs E. W. Stead and Mr Gilbert Stead

Measurements and weight

Depth: 11 cm
Height: 19.1 cm
Weight: 0.292 kg
Width: 19.5 cm

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Given (1936-01-15) by Stead, E. W. and Gilbert

Dating

16th Century, Early#
Circa 1510 CE - 1520 CE

Note

South German

The couter is bright, with patches of dark patination. Its upper and lower edges both exhibit cracks. A small section at the inner end of the lower edge has broken away. The outer edge of the couter has a crack just below its centre, and its lower corner is bent inwards.

Components of the work

Decoration composed of gilt
Borders
Parts
Rib Decoration
Ribs

Materials used in production

Steel

Techniques used in production

Hammered : Formed of a single, shell-like plate, open at the rear and strongly shaped to the point of the elbow; hammered, shaped, riveted, with recessed borders, and raised ribs with etched and gilded decoration
Patinating
Formed

Inscription or legends present

  • Text: 68
  • Location: Inside
  • Method of creation: Painted red
  • Type: Number

References and bibliographic entries

Identification numbers

Accession number: M.1.7B-1936
Primary reference Number: 18633
Stable URI

Audit data

Created: Saturday 6 August 2011 Updated: Thursday 7 October 2021 Last processed: Thursday 7 December 2023

Associated departments & institutions

Owner or interested party: The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department: Applied Arts

Citation for print

This record can be cited in the Harvard Bibliographic style using the text below:

The Fitzwilliam Museum (2024) "Couter" Web page available at: https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/18633 Accessed: 2024-12-23 02:09:43

Citation for Wikipedia

To cite this record on Wikipedia you can use this code snippet:

{{cite web|url=https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/18633 |title=Couter |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2024-12-23 02:09:43|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

API call for this record

To call these data via our API (remember this needs to be authenticated) you can use this code snippet:

https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/api/v1/objects/object-18633

Bootstrap HTML code for reuse

To use this as a simple code embed, copy this string:

<div class="text-center">
    <figure class="figure">
        <img src="https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/imagestore/aa/aa40/large_M_1_7B_1936_1_201705_sjc288_dc2.jpg"
        alt="Couter"
        class="img-fluid" />
        <figcaption class="figure-caption text-info">Couter</figcaption>
    </figure>
</div>
    

Sign up for updates

Updates about future exhibitions and displays, family activities, virtual events & news. You'll be the first to know...