Silver Forearm Shields

The central piece of this metal forearm shield was used to protect the arm during battle. The shield is considerably wider at the elbow than at the wrist, and the central line is embossed with flower bud designs. To make the bracelet that wraps around the wrist, two curved metal rectangles are connected to the central piece with hinges, forming an open cylinder. These two smaller pieces each have three hooks at the open end, where string or thread would be tied to hold the shield in place. Forearm shields like this were a standard part of armor, and similar pieces have been found in gilt-bronze, silver, and iron.