Items Of An Age

I am picking up where I left off yesterday with the exhibit at the Museum of History. This head carving in stone dates between 1275-1325, and is thought to show Eleanor of Castile, wife of Edward I. While Edward Longshanks gets a reputation in history as an ill tempered fellow, he was in fact devoted to his wife. Upon her death, he ordered crosses erected at each place where her funeral cortege rested on the road from Lincoln back to London. Stone heads like this were often found in religious architecture afterwards.

This tapestry, from right to left, was made in Alsace between 1440-1460, and depicts the seasonal work of peasants. It comes from the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. 

Seen here from two angles is a Tuscan chest, around 1400-1425. It's a local contribution to the exhibit, on loan from the National Gallery of Canada. It is gilded gesso on wood.

This plate is tin-glazed earthenware, dated back around 1450. It is decorated with a coat of arms that indicates it probably belonged to the household of Rene Valjois, Duc d'Anjou. His governing responsibilities during his lifetime included Naples, Piedmont, and Provence.

Medieval armour was found in this display case, including a sallet helmet, a bevor (neck guard), and aventail chainmail. They date to the 14th and 15th centuries.

This large tapestry was a bit difficult in terms of photographing. Dated circa 1475-1500, it is another work from the Victoria and Albert Museum. It depicts the Battle of Roncevaux, with Charlemagne's nephew Roland battling King Marsile in the midst of the 778 battle in the Pyrenees. 

These are armour gauntlets, replicas in this case. Two staffers were close by if one wanted to try them. I just wanted the shot of them together.

This too is a contemporary reproduction of a suit of armour, belonging to the museum itself. I imagine it was likely assembled specifically for this exhibit.