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French School, by an unknown armourer, about 1570. In a private collection in England

originally enriched with gold and silver overlaying and damascening which, however, according to Mr. Skelton, was "removed to gratify the avarice of the finder." It was rescued by Count Vassali, into whose collection it passed, and under whose guidance it was restored. From his keeping it passed into the collection of Sir Samuel Rush Meyrick, F.S.A., of Goodrich Court, and is illustrated in "The Engraved Illustrations of Antient Armour," by Joseph Skelton, F.S.A., Vol. i, Plates XLIX and L (a and b), who called it the shield of François I, and described it as having probably been executed from a design of Giulio dei Giannuzzi (Romano) or Francesco Primaticcio. The other designs of a similar character do not corroborate this most interesting