Artemis – Celtic Leather Cuirass

(About): Master-Crafted Leather Armor from a Legend of the Roleplay World

Our Artemis Celtic Leather Cuirass has been made by the legendary Italian leathermaker Fucina del Drago (“Forge of the Dragon”), who supply film, TV, stage, and the roleplaying community with the finest leather armors and accessories. Their ‘Leather Lab’ consistently wows us with their staggeringly inventive designs – and our Artemis Celtic Leather Cuirass is no exception! It brings together the highest tiers of craft expertise with gorgeous traditional artwork to create the perfect Celtic cuirass for your rogue, elf or archer.

Rugged Construction and Historical Decoration

Our Artemis Celtic Leather Cuirass consists of two parts: a finely made split-fronted breastplate, and a backplate, secured to one another with a series of rugged leather straps. Fucina del Drago’s master leatherworkers have chosen deluxe upper-leather for the breastplate and backplate, which has resulted in a handsome natural grain and texture throughout. The Celtic cuirass has been pitched to be the perfect combination of stiff ruggedness and flexible comfort. The breastplate consists of three three panels: scalloped side pieces that have been hand-riveted to a gorgeous decorative central panel, which is split down the middle for ease of donning and doffing. The artistic designs which have been embossed in relief on the breastplate are simply stunning – they are traditional forms of Celtic knotwork, based on original historical examples such as those which curl around the margins of the beautiful 9th-century Book of Kells. The top of the back-plate is similarly decorated, with the telltale ‘anvil’ makers mark which certifies this as the highest-quality product by Fucina del Drago.

A Finish with Real Roleplayers in Mind

The fittings of our Artemis Celtic Leather Cuirass are of the highest quality, and they are all designed with the roleplayer in mind, just as the ones of the Mantikor. The breastplate and back-plate are secured by six leather straps: three on each side, and one at each shoulder. Every one has been hand-riveted, so is wholly secure. The antiqued buckles which hold them in place are chunky and robust, with pierced leather straps – this means that the whole cuirass can be adjusted to give a perfect fit to a wide range of body types. The central leather lacing that closes the breastplate is robust and easy to tie on your own (not everyone has a squire to help them dress!). It has been made in two versions: a rich natural brown leather, or a striking satin black, giving it the flexibility to merge seamlessly into your roleplaying wardrobe.

There are relatively few pieces of armor which tick every single box for a roleplayer; one must almost always make compromises. Our Artemis Celtic Leather Cuirass requires no such thing – it is robust and will stand up to the knocks and scrapes of roleplay and re-enactment, it is aesthetically flawless in its historically-inspired Celtic artwork, and it is wonderfully refined with a close eye for detail. It would do sterling service as the torso defense of an elfin archer, it could serve in an excellent Viking-inspired outfit, or perhaps the black version could be the armor of a sneaky assassin… Any battlefield would be graced by such a fine example of a Celtic cuirass.

(Curiosity): Celtic Warrior Queens in Irish Mythology

In medieval Anglo-Norman tradition, women were frequently reduced to objects of status rather than agents of their own destiny. Particularly with the widespread adoption of chivalric virtues in Western Europe from the 11th-century CE onward, (wealthy, upper-class) women were placed on pedestals, venerated, but ultimately relegated to the position of pawns in political marriages and dynastic politics. However, competing Celtic traditions of womanhood depicted women in a very different light. The body of Irish mythology known as the Ulster Cycle contains numerous warrior-women and female nobles who ruled in their own right; indeed, it describes semi-historical events which go all the way back to the 1st-century CE – and it is interesting that these stories of liberated women were transcribed just as chivalric ideals were seeking to put women back into their place. Scáthach, the warrior woman of Dún Scáith (“Fortress of Shadows”), is depicted in the tale ‘Tochmarc Emire’ as the teacher of the most famous hero of the Ulster cycle, Cú Chulainn. Queen Medb rules the kingdom of Connacht in her own right in the 8th-century Táin Bó Cúailnge, and who makes war against Ulster in order to steal Donn Cuailnge, the mythical stud bull. It’s quite clear that women held prominent social and military roles in Irish society – and our Artemis Celtic Leather Cuirass enables you to bring that warrior heritage to your roleplay today.

Want something heavier? This Cuirass will have you covered!

Complete the kit! Pair the Celtic Knot Bracelet to this armor for a more elegant look.

Technical Specifications:

• • Material: Upper leather
  • Secondary material: Leather
  • Sizing:

                 Chest: 34-45 Inches

                 Waist: 30-41 Inches

                 Overall Length: 22 Inches