{"product_id":"ecu-medieval-crane-haches-croisees-48cm","title":"Medieval Shield with Skull and Crossed Axes: 48 cm","description":"\u003ch2\u003eThe round shield disappeared because of the horse\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA \u003cstrong\u003eblack shield\u003c\/strong\u003e charged with a \u003cstrong\u003eskull\u003c\/strong\u003e wrapped in a coiling serpent, set over \u003cstrong\u003etwo crossed axes\u003c\/strong\u003e with light-colored heads. Gold-tone rivets and rosettes around the rim, and an upright sword behind the design.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFind this piece in our \u003ca href=\"\/en\/collections\/boucliers-vikings\"\u003eshield section\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWhat sets this piece apart\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eThe design is layered on three levels:\u003c\/b\u003e axes at the back, skull in the center, serpent on top. This stepped relief reads from a distance, which a flat print cannot do.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eThe axes are crossed in saltire:\u003c\/b\u003e that is the heraldic name for an X arrangement, and it is one of the few heraldic conventions respected here.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003ePU foam with a rigid core:\u003c\/b\u003e forty-eight centimeters that weigh almost nothing, to carry for a whole evening or to hang on the wall.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eThis is not a weapon:\u003c\/b\u003e PU foam with a rigid core, no hard edges. This piece is made for costume, the stage and the wall.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFeatures\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eMaterial:\u003c\/b\u003e PU foam with a rigid core, black finish, gold-tone rivets and rosettes\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/b\u003e About 48 × 34 cm, shield shape pointed at the bottom\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eUse:\u003c\/b\u003e costume, reenactment, wall decor\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eFor:\u003c\/b\u003e men and women (adults)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eDid you know?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf this shield doesn't have the shape of a Viking shield, it's because of the horse. The round shield of the North was held at arm's length, in the fist, by a simple grip behind the boss: perfect on foot, in a shield wall. But on horseback, it leaves the whole \u003cstrong\u003eleft leg exposed\u003c\/strong\u003e. So 11\u003csup\u003eth\u003c\/sup\u003e-century horsemen lengthened the bottom of the shield into an almond shape — this is the \u003cstrong\u003ekite shield\u003c\/strong\u003e seen on the Bayeux Tapestry. Then, as leg armor became widespread, the point became useless again: it was shortened, and the result was the triangular shield. Three centuries of evolution that can be summed up like this: the shape of the shield follows the shape of what it has to protect.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTo go further, our \u003ca href=\"\/en\/blogs\/news\/bouclier-viking-combat-techniques-defense\"\u003efeature on the Viking shield\u003c\/a\u003e shows what the round shape that came before this one looked like, and the \u003ca href=\"\/en\/collections\/armes-vikings\"\u003eweapons section\u003c\/a\u003e completes the kit.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIn the same section\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/en\/products\/ecu-medieval-dragon-blason-bleu-noir-49cm\"\u003eMedieval Dragon Shield: Blue and Black Coat of Arms, 49 cm\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/en\/products\/bouclier-rond-bandes-dorees-noir-44cm\"\u003eRound Shield with Gold-Tone Bands: Black, 44 cm\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/en\/products\/bouclier-rond-entrelacs-umbo-metallique-44cm\"\u003eRound Knotwork Shield: Metal Boss, 44 cm\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n","brand":"Le Comptoir Viking","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57918433165694,"sku":"LCV-BOUC-ECUMEDIEVALCRANEHACHESCROISEES4","price":49.9,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0974\/0569\/8430\/files\/ecu-medieval-crane-haches-croisees-48cm-ambiance.jpg?v=1787741081","url":"https:\/\/www.le-comptoir-viking.fr\/en\/products\/ecu-medieval-crane-haches-croisees-48cm","provider":"Le Comptoir Viking","version":"1.0","type":"link"}