Right Thigh and Knee Defense (Cuisse and Poleyn) for the Armor of Sir John Scudamore (1541 or 1542–1623) 1913

This right thigh and knee defense for Sir John Scudamore’s armor was created in the 16th century, and man, it's a process to behold. Just look at how the metal is worked! I mean, really *look*. See how the plates overlap, creating this sculptural layering effect? The gold inlay is so delicate, like little vines creeping across the steel. It's beautiful, but think about what this thing was *for*. All that ornament, all that careful craftsmanship, designed for war, for violence. The way that the plates are fixed together to allow mobility is so clever, like a tiny machine. It makes me think about how we construct ourselves, how we build up layers of protection, both physical and emotional. And how even the most brutal tools can be turned into objects of incredible beauty. It's a testament to the weird, contradictory nature of being human. I see echoes of this in the work of someone like Lee Bontecou, who also made sculptural forms out of fabric. Ultimately, it’s not about answers but the ongoing conversation art has with itself.