Shield boss

Under a shield boss refers to a metal dome tweeter made of iron or bronze plate, which was originally riveted to protect the thumb on the front of the shield. Under the hump a handle hole was cut out in the plate, in which the carrier caused the shield to the shield bondage. Found using the shield boss, for example, the Roman Scutum and the bucklers in the early Middle Ages.

After the introduction of the so-called " Norman shield " in the 11th century, which had a different grip technology, the shield boss only came to decorating function, until it finally disappeared completely during the High Middle Ages.

The shapes of the shield boss gave way depending on the mode and region widely. There were segments of a sphere, hemispherical, conical and pointed oval mogul who could be with pomp shields additionally are richly decorated and gilded.

Anglo-Saxon shield boss, found at Ham Hill, issued in Somerset County Museum, Taunton.

Lombard shield boss from the 7th century with ornaments made ​​of bronze. Exhibited at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.

Norman shields with shield bosses on the so-called Temple Pyx ( monstrance ), part of a reliquary (around 1140-1150 ), today Burrell Collection, Glasgow.