Norman kite shield

Norman kite shield

Specifications

• Height approx. 103cm
• Width approx. 50cm
• made out of steel plate
• made in the Czech Republic
• weight when made of 16 gauge (1.5mm) … approx. 7 kg
• weight when made of 14 gauge (2.0mm) … approx. 10 kg

A kite shield was a distinct type of shield from the 10th–14th centuries. It was either a reverse teardrop shape or later on, flat-topped. The tapering point extended down to either a distinct or rounded point. Believed to be an evolution of the simple round shield purely to guard one whole flank of a rider when in combat, the shield gained popularity amongst professional soldiers as it allowed them to guard their foreleg when in a mêlée. It was either flat in section, or featured a gradual curve, to better fit the contour of the human torso, much in the style of a scutum. The kite shield is most closely associated with the Normans, who were one of the first cultures to use it widely, and can be seen throughout the Bayeux Tapestry.