The heater shield’s development reflects a genuine shift in medieval armour technology: as leg and head protection improved through the 12th and 13th centuries, knights no longer needed the extensive body coverage of the earlier kite shield, allowing for a smaller, more manoeuvrable form that also provided an ideal canvas for heraldic display. This unpainted blank, sized 28 by 21 inches, gives a re-enactor a genuine base to decorate with their own colours or coat of arms.
Heater Shield Blank, Unpainted (28″ x 21″)
The heater shield first emerged in the medieval period, evolving from the larger kite shield as advancements in leg and head armour allowed for a smaller, more compact design. It takes its modern name from its resemblance to the shape of a traditional flat iron, or heater. This unpainted blank measures 28 by 21 inches, ready for a re-enactor to apply their own heraldry or personal design.
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