Author:Léonard Morel-Ladeuil(1820-1888).Elkington & Co.(1963)

Category：Weapons and defense

Year：1866-1870

Size:Length:85.5 x Width:65.5 x Height:4 (cm)

Introduction：This is a beautifully made copy of a masterpiece of the metalworker's art which won a medal at the Paris International Exhibition of 1867. The original made by Morel Ladeuil in 1866 is now in the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. Several copies of this shield were made by Elkington at the period, of which this is one of the finest.

Decorated with richly modelled scenes from the epic poem Paradise Lost by the English poet John Milton, published in 1667, this is widely considered to be one of the greatest literary works in the English language. The poem describes the rebellion against God by Satan and his rebel angels, their defeat and banishment to Hell. Satan swears to take revenge by destroying God’s newly created earth and his favourite creation, Mankind. Disguised as a snake, Satan tricks Eve into eating a fruit from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, which God had expressly forbidden. Eve then gives the fruit to Adam, and they both lose their innocence forever. God expels them from the Garden, condemning them and their descendants to all the hardships and sorrows of human life. However, the Archangel Michael, God’s most powerful warrior angel gives them hope. He tells Adam that he may find a "Paradise within, happier by far".

The center of the shield shows the Archangel Raphael telling Adam and Eve about the "war in heaven". Above them is the face of God himself. The two large panels show the struggle between good and evil angels and between them the overthrow of Satan is depicted. There are many strong symbolic images woven into the flowing decoration of this magnificent work.

Accession Number:0011151

Place of Orgin：Birmingham, UK