Entre la utilidad y el lujo: armas joya en la corte de los Habsburgo. Algunos ejemplos españoles del siglo XVI

Abstract

Throughout the Middle Ages and Early Modern Age, sumptuous weapons were a fundamental object among the possessions of the power- ful elites. Beyond their real utility, they became pieces that had symbolic values, especially those related to the concepts of luxury and power. In this sense, in addition to magnificent armours, the so-called jewel-weapons were very unique. This essay analyses some of these pieces in the sphere of the Habsburgs in the XVI century.