Armor Type:  Shoulder and upper chest armor

Brief Description:  A gardbrace is a specialized plate armor reinforcement worn directly over a pauldron, it deflects weapon strikes away from the neck and head and is most commonly associated with heavy tournament and jousting suits.

Key Characteristics:

Placement: It sits over the pauldron (shoulder guard) and protects the vulnerable joints and straps underneath.

Function: It creates a "stop rib" to catch, deflect, or channel the tip of an opponent’s weapon (especially lances) away from the throat and the armpit.

Jousting Asymmetry: In the 15th and 16th centuries, jousters rode alongside a barrier with their left sides facing each other. As a result, the left-side gardbrace was frequently larger and more robust than the right.

Attachment: It connects to the rest of the armor via a staple or pin system, allowing it to be easily attached or removed depending on the activity.