Investigating a sixteenth century Welsh buckler

A highly polished early 16th-century Welsh buckler shield.

The question

Centuries of cleaning had left this small shield in a highly polished state. Could XRF provide clues to its original appearance?

Results of analysis

XRF analysis was used to examine many parts of the surface. The raised rings were shown to have originally been tinned, whilst the backing was found to be painted with a (red) lead based compound. The brass rivet heads, despite being of two different shapes were all of low zinc brass, consistent with the date of the shield.

Significance

Analysis helped show that the buckler’s original appearance would have been significantly different from what is seen today, with alternate bands of bright tin and deep red paint.

Outcome

This work not only enabled a more accurate description of the object to be recorded, but has used in a number of presentations as an example of everyday analytical investigations of objects in the Science Lab.

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Old idea, new materials

The tips of the lances used by the Royal Armouries jousters are made from balsa wood and are designed to be broken, this was something that was done in some tournaments in the 15th century, though not using balsa wood.