LET'S MAKE SHIELDS!!!
The Ancient
Armory
The Ancient Armory is a project dedicated to the reconstruction and proliferation of ancient shields, from the bronze age to the renaissance and beyond.
The project seeks to recreate shields wherever they are found from history, but also fantasy, pop culture, and videogames!
Follow us, into the pages of history!
MEET THE CRAFTSMAN!!!
01
Laminated Shields
Laminated Shields
Roman Era, 1st Century CE
Most famously used during the Roman Era, this shield pattern is made from three layers of ultra-thin wood strips. Glued and then pressed into shape, these shields were further reinforced with facings like linen, leather, or rawhide. They would have had a rim made of rawhide, iron, or cupric alloy (brass/bronze).
02
Planked Shields
Planked Shields
All Eras
Making a shield by gluing multiple planks together, and then wrapping it with fabric or leather, was a cost-effective build technique throughout history. It shows up as early as the Bronze Age, and lasts all the way up into the Renaissance. They're not as strong as a laminated shield, but were much faster and easier to make, and therefore easier to replace.
03
Sport Shields
Modern Era, built w/ historical materials & techniques
Sport shields use a mix of historic and modern to create next-level competitive shields. So for example, using a laminated strip pattern but with modern plywood strips on a flat dueling shield would make a shield a "sport shield", because it creates a stronger core. It prioritizes safety and durability, in order to best defend its wearer in the field. Utere Felix! (Latin: "Good luck to the user")
