Miniaturharnisch – Blendkappe – Gliederpuppe. Neue Erkenntnisse zur Figur des Stechreiters im Bayerischen Nationalmuseum

Abstract

The recent conservation of the little figure of a jouster in the Bayerisches Nationalmuseum in Munich offered a chance to gain valuable insights not only into the making of this unique object, but also into its fittings. Most spectacular is the linen blindfold on the horse’s head, which, like well-known blind shaffrons of steel, should prevent the horse from shying, but has so far been a completely unknown piece of the gear for the joust of peace. Beyond that, the impressive padded cushion around the horse’s neck came to light after the silk caparison of the 1970s was removed. X-rays revealed the articulated joints of the figure of the jouster. The whole piece can be pulled forward like in a real joust of peace and would have served as a toy, probably for training young patricians or aristocrats. Further research confirmed the provenance from the Holzschuher family in Nuremberg, after which the object passed through the hands of various owners and collectors before entering the holdings of the museum in 1895. The jouster is part of a small group of miniature armours of the mid-16th century in museums in Paris and Berlin, neither as complete as the Munich piece. Thanks to recent documentation it will serve as a benchmark for assessing other miniature armours and possibly also figures.