Research on a fine medieval German mail shirt.

[Swordfish]

The text is the attached Word doc. at the bottom end!

[Matchlock]

Hi Swordfish,

Your mail coat sure looks impressive, and I hope it will turn out to be a both impressive and incentive impulse to activate the interest in VERY early objects of arms and armor ...

Great and important piece anyway,so: well done!

I'm afraid though that the cast and punched inscription on the attached maker's brass ring might remain illlegible because it most probably represents an abbreviated and stylized common Medievial ethic motto - or was meant to give a hint to the sarwürcher (the original German and guild name).

Best,
MIchael

[fernando]

Hi Swordfish,

Thanks for sharing such highly interesting material.

[Swordfish]

Two sheets from the Hausbuch der Nürnberger Zwölfbrüderstiftungen
Mendel I (online available) showing a wire maker and a mail maker c.1425.
The gothic text reads:
Der... Bruder der do starb hieß Dyetrich Schockenzieher(Schaukelzieher= Drahtzieher)
The name of the brother who died there was Dietrich Schaukelzieher
(Swingpuller, Wirepuller, Wiremaker)

Der... Bruder der do starb der hieß Heinz und war ein Salbürett(Sarwürker)
The brother who died there, his name was Heinz, and he was a Salbürett
(Mail shirt maker)

[Matchlock]

Brilliant period research, Swordfish,

Athough I have the reprint of the Nuremberg Hausbücher der Mendelschen Zwölbrüderstiftung in my library, I sadly didn't remember these illustrations.

Best,
Michael

[Swordfish]

More German mail shirts of the 15th century in public Museums with brass rings inscribed with maker`s name:
In the Churburg Armoury, South-Tyrol with name `Melchar Hauc´
In the Metropolitan Museum New York with name`BECHLER´
In the Royal Armouries Leeds with name`bertolt vor parte´and`to isrenloen´

[Swordfish]

If German medieval mail shirts bear inscribed brass rings, they are
never inscribed with any motto or a hint to anything. Not a single
ring with such an iscription is known to me.

They are always insribed with:

1. The town name e. g. Nurenberck (DHM Berlin, 3 examples)
or

2. The makers name e.g. see post above,
add. +ernart couwein (Wallace Collection)
or

3.The makers name on one ring and the town name on a second.
e.g. bertold vor parte and to isrenloen (Royal Armouries Leeds),
+heinrich +lohel and zu nurnberg (DHM Berlin, no photo)
or

4.The initials of the makers name e. g. V and A separated by three crowns
(Royal Armouries Leeds, no photo)

[Jim McDougall]

I have been looking at this thread and can only say I very much admire the outstanding research Swordfish has done and the fascinating discussion details added by Michael and him. While incredibly outside my element, and despite being among giants in the study of medieval arms and armour, I wanted to add something I discovered while looking for something on an unrelated topic.

In Park Lane Arms Fair catalogue 2004, "Problems and Pitfalls in the Identification of European Mail" , David Edge, he brings up some interesting perspective on some of these latten rings found on medieval coats of mail.
Apparantly, while in this example the ring is marked with letters which seem to comprise a name rather than invocational acrostic and is situated near the neck....some of the other examples have this latten ring situated in the right arm pit or under the right arm. This is the case notably with the 'Archibald hauberk' ('Royal Armouries Yearbook' Vol.IV, 1999, T. Richardson, pp.29-31) where the latten ring is pierced with three slotted holes, but only one holds the rivet.
Edge notes that similar instances with other latten rings are found in similar locations on other examples and noticeably incongruent with the surrounding rings.
He suggests that since these distinct latten rings are positioned in these same areas on the mail, perhaps these may have talismanic purpose as these right arm areas are most vulnerable. There are examples with simply a cross on them. In other instances rather than a latten ring, particular iron rings were stamped with 'signed' marks with 'Teutonic' (also cross pattee or Maltese) cross and in seemingly strategic locations, not necessarily in the arm regions noted. These seem to be from German 15th into 16th c.mail.

While these suggestions are of course highly speculative, one cannot overlook the powerful superstitions and religious beliefs held in particular by fighting men of the times, and even in the most modern times a man will look to many forms of faith to accompany him to battle.
Though some of these rings certainly seem to have names or locations in them, it does seem that many did not and these were still placed in locations where they were not easily seen, nor even noticed until recent inspections in museums. This suggests that these were subtly placed to imbue talismanic properties in the armour, and to reinforce the wearers confidence and strength in battle.
It would seem the signed rings accomplished this as well as heralding the work of the maker as the provider of this powerfully imbued armor.

Just my perspective in accord with Mr. Edges suggestions.

All the very best,
Jim

[Swordfish]

Dear Jim,

I`m enjoyed about your interest. I know David Edge`s article and I fully agree wit his and your opinion. It is noticeable that these talismanic brass rings sometimes bear stamped symbols or are plain, but never have inscriptions. The inscribed rings are allwayas located at the neck.
I attach a photo of such talismanic rings arranged in the form of a cross, from another mail shirt in my collection.

Best wishes

Susi

[Swordfish]

The attached photos show a European (German?) mail shirt of the second half of the 15th century. The shirt is of medium length with short sleeves,
constructed entirely of riveted rings of equal diameter of c. 5.5 mm, except
for the collar, which is made of a close mesh of smaller rings with a border
of latten rings. On the right side of the breast is a lead Arsenal-mark with
an impressed tamga. This indicates that the mail shirt was once captured
by the Ottomans, and stored at the St.Irene Arsenal in Konstantinople,
where it was marked with the tamga. This is a well known markt that can
be found stamped on many pieces of arms and armour, especially on breast-plates of mainly Ottoman, or rarely European origin, as well as on sword-
blades of European origin, captured by the Ottomans in the many battles in southeast Europe and the Mediterranean area.

The special feature of this mail shirt is that it is made of an incredible
number of small riveted rings wit an outside diameter of c. 5-5.5 mm, a wire diameter of 0.8 mm, and a weight of 0.047g. The weight of the mail shirt is 6.6kg. The whole shirt is therefore constructed of c. 140.000 rings. This
number must be compared with with the usual number of rings of a basic
mail shirt, which is made of c. 20.000-25.000 rings, or a mail shirt of high quality, which is made of c. 30.000-50.000 rings. But not only the huge number or rings is admirable. The rings are so small and the slots for the
rivet is hardly visible. I assume that the whole rings must have been riveted with the help of a magnyfying glass, comparably with watchmakers today. This must have been a huge amount of work, which probably lasted one
year or longer. Therefore the shirt must have been very expensive.

The other aspect is, that the rings are so weak, that this mail shirt could never have been used for fighting. It must be a splendor-shirt, used only
for celebration activities. The smaller the rings, the higher the number of rings, the higher the price, the higher the rank of its owner. Therefore it
is unlikely that it was captured during fighting. It was surely booty from the armoury of a nobleman of high rank.