Kite Shields

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This article's completion rating is 2 out of 5. Article structure and content is subject to change as data is still being collected.
Completion Rating
This article's completion rating is 2 out of 5. Article structure and content is subject to change as data is still being collected.

A shield in the shape of a child’s flying kite and curved in the horizontal plane.
These seem to originate from Byzantium. There use in Western Europe can be seen xxxx xxxx. The first illustration from England is xxx xxx. It is assumed that the kite shield was introduced into England with the arrival of King Edward the Confessors Norman retinue. No examples are known from archaeology although a possible kite shield is known from Arnold of Brienz 1200AD, 109cm high. 67cm wide. 1.5cm thick.

Kite shields with boss

Art
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Literature
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Archaeology
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Discussion
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Kite shields with no boss

Art
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Literature
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Archaeology

  • Arnold of Brienz, c.1200AD

Discussion
A possible kite shield is known from Arnold of Brienz 1200AD, 109cm high. 67cm wide. 1.5cm thick

Flat top kite shield

These appear from about 1180AD.
Art
Lewis chessmen C12th [ROESDAHL & WILSON 1992]:p.104, 390 Cat.615 Literature
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Archaeology
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Kite shield strapping

Art

  • Centaur on Cambs, Corpus Christi, Bury Bible, MS2 fol.1v c.1135AD [DODWELL 1993]:p.342
  • Great seal from king Henry I, 1100-1135
  • Goliath from the Bible of St. Etienne, 1109-1111AD
  • Seal of William the Conqueror
  • Bayeux Tapestry c.1086AD

Literature
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Archaeology
None Discussion
With the exception of the elaborate strapping styles depicted on the Bayeux tapestry, kite shields seem to be depicted hung from a shoulder (gee) strap with a single grip strap.

Kite shield bosses (umbo)


Kite shield decoration

Zoomorphic animals

Art

  • Bayeux Tapestry. The Normans are occasionally represented with zoomorphic animals but never the English.

Cross

Art

  • Bayeux Tapestry. Both the normans and the English are represented with cross designs on their shields.


Shield edging

see Round Shields

References

Dodwell, C. R. (1993) The Pictorial Arts of the West 800-1200. Yale University Press. [DODWELL 1993] ^ *
Roesdahl, Else, and Wilson, David M. (eds.) (1992) From Viking to Crusader, The Scandinavians and Europe 800-1200. Nordic Council of Ministers. [ROESDAHL & WILSON 1992] ^ *