Islamic Knee Guard

TVV · 24th December 2025, 10:05 PM

Here is an Islamic knee guard for comment. It is missing the thigh plates and the cup itself has been broken and subsequently reinforced with another plate. The riveted mail on the sides and bottom is still there. I understand that in the absence of a dedication, it is extremely hard to attribute 15th-16th century pieces among the Mamluks, Ottomans, Aq Qoyunlu, etc. as they shared almost identical mail and plate armor per Robinson. Even the Askeri Museum, usually very quick to identify anything that may have originated within the Ottoman Empire as Ottoman is cautious when it comes to knee guards, with most just described as Islamic, and a few as Timurid or Aq Qoyunlu.

I am wondering if anyone can identify/translate the design on the front of the knee cup to potentially provide clues as to which Middle Eastern late Middle Ages Empire this item may have come from.

24th December 2025, 10:05 PM	#1
TVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Bay Area Posts: 1,745	Islamic Knee Guard Here is an Islamic knee guard for comment. It is missing the thigh plates and the cup itself has been broken and subsequently reinforced with another plate. The riveted mail on the sides and bottom is still there. I understand that in the absence of a dedication, it is extremely hard to attribute 15th-16th century pieces among the Mamluks, Ottomans, Aq Qoyunlu, etc. as they shared almost identical mail and plate armor per Robinson. Even the Askeri Museum, usually very quick to identify anything that may have originated within the Ottoman Empire as Ottoman is cautious when it comes to knee guards, with most just described as Islamic, and a few as Timurid or Aq Qoyunlu. I am wondering if anyone can identify/translate the design on the front of the knee cup to potentially provide clues as to which Middle Eastern late Middle Ages Empire this item may have come from. Attached Images