Knee pads with 2 shields (pair)

Description

Western Europe, 14th century.

A simple but very robust knee pad model with advanced protection on the inside of the knee.
Features an elaborate one large side plate to protect the knee from side impact and one smaller plate on the inside of the joint to protect the knee from impact on the inside.
Steel 3. Steel thickness 1,5 mm. Painted on inside.
Leather straps with steel buckle and leather lugs for connecting the kneecap to the armpoints.

Knee pads are an element of armour designed to protect the knees.

Knee pads appeared in Western Europe around the XII century, initially as a wide strip of thick leather reinforced with a metal plate. However, they were uncomfortable. Therefore, around the second half of the XIII century iron knee pads appeared, fixed with straps and buckles. The development of leg protection leads to the increase in the knee pads, and around the end of the XIV – beginning of the XV century a full knee pads appears with a shell on the outer side.
In West Asia and in Russia knee pads were also used – sometimes segmented or cup-shaped. In Asia knee pads were attached to ringed-plated bibs. In Rus, apparently, they were rarely used, and the method of attachment is unknown.