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Posts: 9,545 Location: Dayton, OH

Sat 28 Feb, 2009 10:49 am

Here are more pavises, from the Historisches Museum der Stadt Wien. From the book Wehrhafte Stadt: Das Wiener Buergerliche Zeughaus im 15. und 16. Jahrhundert.

There are actually probably another 10 pavises pictured in colour in this book (and more in small B&W pics), but these are the best of the bunch.

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Posts: 20 Location: Saint Petersburg

Mon 02 Mar, 2009 10:35 pm

One more pavise shield is here. This is the real example from collection of Artillery museum in St. Petersburg. Visitors are not allowed to take pictures at that particular exhibition. Fortunately I was allowed to take a picture with the cell phone camera. That’s why the quality of that pictures isn’t high.

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Posts: 9

Wed 04 Mar, 2009 5:07 pm

I see a lot of good information on dimensions and construction, but I would like to know if anyone knows how much a pavise would weigh, depending on period, of course?

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Posts: 9,545 Location: Dayton, OH

Thu 05 Mar, 2009 7:36 pm

Check out the mega-pavise here. :)

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Detail

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Posts: 9,545 Location: Dayton, OH

Thu 05 Mar, 2009 7:49 pm

Here are some pavises from the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Photos by me (sorry!).

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Hand pavise.

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Another pavise

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Pavise

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Pavises in their cases for scale. That sword is about 4 feet long!

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Posts: 355 Location: Höör, Skane

Fri 06 Mar, 2009 12:18 am

On the large pavises, there are many examples with central spine and a beak-like projection. Does anyone know what the function of that "beak" would be? I can imagine why the central spine/ridge makes sense, but that little beak makes my brain itch with curiosity...

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Posts: 115 Location: someplace out on the water (and probably not able to access my PM)

Fri 06 Mar, 2009 7:17 am

would dueling shields be a sort of pavise as well?

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Posts: 9

Fri 13 Mar, 2009 6:08 pm

Bjorn Hagstrom wrote:

On the large pavises, there are many examples with central spine and a beak-like projection. Does anyone know what the function of that "beak" would be? I can imagine why the central spine/ridge makes sense, but that little beak makes my brain itch with curiosity...

Completely uneducated guess here but it looked to me like the ridge and beak might be some sort of interlocking system to place a third pavise on top of two others to form a ceiling?

In some other pictures ( like the last few in this post ) there are a few specimens with what look like hooks or rings protruding from the top center of the pavise, my first thought when I saw them was if the ring or hook in the center of the top of two separate pavises was used to seat the spikes on either side of the bottom of a third then you could have a more versatile construction block for defense, using it as either a larger vertical wall or possibly angling the top row back to form a roof.

Just brainstorming , I'm not a professor or anything - but I am also interested in these medieval multi tools.

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Posts: 127

Mon 16 Mar, 2009 7:15 pm

Chad Arnow wrote:

Check out the mega-pavise here. :)

Fantastic illustration. Where did you find this image? Do you know if those are supposed to be Hussites behind the large pavise with the 'bouche' cut out? The chalice painted on the shield and the war flails make me think so.

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Posts: 9,545 Location: Dayton, OH

Mon 16 Mar, 2009 8:21 pm

James Head wrote:

Fantastic illustration. Where did you find this image?

I believe it was the old Bruno Thomas book Harnische. The book is in German, so I can't tell you a lot about it. :) Some neat pictures, though.

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Posts: 12

Mon 16 Mar, 2009 10:09 pm

I have heard second (or third) hand that the word Pavise comes from the town of Pavia in Italy and that their cottage industry was the shield. Is there any truth to this?

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Posts: 355 Location: Höör, Skane

Tue 17 Mar, 2009 12:15 am

Adam O'Byrne wrote:

Completely uneducated guess here but it looked to me like the ridge and beak might be some sort of interlocking system to place a third pavise on top of two others to form a ceiling?

In some other pictures ( like the last few in this post ) there are a few specimens with what look like hooks or rings protruding from the top center of the pavise, my first thought when I saw them was if the ring or hook in the center of the top of two separate pavises was used to seat the spikes on either side of the bottom of a third then you could have a more versatile construction block for defense, using it as either a larger vertical wall or possibly angling the top row back to form a roof.

Just brainstorming , I'm not a professor or anything - but I am also interested in these medieval multi tools.

That is not a bad theory at all. I suppose in a siege situation where the enemy has very high ground it would be a good idea to add a protective layer on top.

Another theory, depending on the height of the pavise, could the beak be there to be a support to aim a crossbow?

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Posts: 9,545 Location: Dayton, OH

Sat 04 Apr, 2009 6:09 pm

Here is another one, from the Munchner Stadtmuseum. I believe it's a hand pavise.

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Posts: 354 Location: Dijon

Sun 05 Apr, 2009 4:59 am

[ Linked Image ]

Bohemian pavise, Musée National du Moeyn Age, Paris (Cl.2381)

The museum has very recently remade its arms and armour room, and several of these are now on display, along with other objects of high interest.

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Posts: 555 Location: Germany

Tue 14 Apr, 2009 6:03 am

This is a Pavise from Schloss Tirol (Tirol, close to the city of Meran)

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Posts: 354 Location: Dijon

Fri 17 Apr, 2009 9:38 am

It's on a revolving display stand ! How clever....:)

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Posts: 18

Mon 20 Apr, 2009 6:32 am

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Posts: 18

Mon 20 Apr, 2009 6:39 am

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Mon 20 Apr, 2009 6:41 am

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Mon 20 Apr, 2009 6:42 am

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