The overlapping plates of the elbow cops rely entirely on internal rivets and slotted sliding tracks to permit motion without exposure. Standing beside the vitrine, the cold-hammered steel shows where friction has kept the surface clear of oxidation across centuries. I traced the curve where the lower vambrace meets the joint: the overlap is calibrated within two millimetres so the arm does not bind under compression. A joint that protects must also move freely, or the structure defeats its own purpose. There is useful honesty in mechanics made before synthetic tolerances.
Solveig Holst · 9. listopada 2026.