War Elephant

Engraving  1851

 

The only complete surviving elephant suit of armor in the world at the Royal Armouries in Leeds.  Created about 1600, the armor is made of sheet iron panels and chainmail. Some of the panels have designs of elephants, fish, peacocks and lotus flowers hammered out.
The elephant armor is so heavy that it takes three members of staff to lift the headpiece alone. Some of the panels are missing, revealing the way cotton would have been used under the armor for the animal's comfort.