A gambeson is a padded defensive jacket, worn as armour separately, or combined with mail or plate armour. Gambesons were produced with a sewing technique called quilting that produced a padded cloth. They were usually constructed of linen or wool; the stuffing varied, and could be, for example, scrap cloth or horse hair.
Men's gambeson, c. 1660–1670. Collection Centraal Museum, Utrecht.
13th-century gambeson worn by a soldier in the Morgan Bible
Sultanate of Bagirmi horseman in full padded armour suit, 1901
Chain mail is a type of armour consisting of small metal rings linked together in a pattern to form a mesh. It was in common military use between the 3rd century BC and the 16th century AD in Europe, while it continued to be used in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East as late as the 17th century. A coat of this armour is often called a hauberk or sometimes a byrnie.
A European mail shirt.
The Vachères warrior, 1st century BC, a statue depicting a Romanized Gaulish warrior wearing mail and a Celtic torc around his neck, bearing a Celtic-style shield.
Fresco of an ancient Macedonian soldier (thorakites) wearing mail armour and bearing a thureos shield
Mail armour and equipment of Polish medium cavalryman, from the second half of the 17th century
