Armour exhibition opens at Canadian War Museum

Suit of jousting armour, made in Italy around 1560 – 1580, steel & leather. Courtesy Museo Stibbert.

If you like knights in shining armour, you will like the new exhibition at the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa.

The exhibition – Armour – is divided into four themes: battle armour, sports armour, status symbol and popular culture.

The battle armour portion draws heavily from the Museo Stibbert in Florence, Italy and features many examples of Renaissance armour and the arms that were used against it. 

Some highlights of the show are two life-sized knights on horseback, all wearing full body armour. A number of helmets in a variety of styles are also featured.

While we think armour is heavy and cumbersome, it was very well designed for its time. A full suit consisted of 12 to 14 components and weighed between 18 and 20 kilograms. Straps and hinges aided in the wearer’s ability to move freely. 

To show how flexible some armour designs were, visitors can put their hand in an armoured glove and pick up a sword. Despite how heavy swords look, the average medieval sword weighed between 1 and 1.5 kilograms – about the same a large bunch of bananas. 

Body armour has adapted to modern warfare and policing by becoming lighter, more flexible and better able to provide more protection.

The Kevlar vest on display was worn by OPP constable Scott Couse in 1992. He was shot twice during a routine traffic stop, but the Kevlar stopped a bullet directly in line with his heart.

If you are a sports fan, you will enjoy the many examples of protective equipment used by hockey players over the years. From leather caps to high tech helmets, many examples are on display, as is the goalie equipment worn by three-time Olympic medalist, Shannon Szabados.

From the real battlefield, to the imaginary one, armour has found its way into popular culture.

Iron Man, decked out in high-tech armour, strikes a formidable pose in the exhibition. As does the Bullet Farmer, a villain in the Mad Max film, Fury Road. The Bullet Farmer’s Academy Award winning costume consists of a bullet-belt helmet and groin armour made of bullets.

Armour, presented in Ottawa from June 15 to September 3, 2018, was developed by Contemporanea Progetti, in collaboration with the Museo Stibbert and the Canadian War Museum.

A modern-day knight, Iron Man fights for justice in his shiny high-tech armour.
Iron Man 3 – Mark XLII, unauthorized replica by Secret Compass. CWM2018-0016-0001-Dm

The protective gear worn by three-time Canadian Olympic medalist Shannon Szabados.