Fluted armour by Hans Maystetter

In the first decades of the 16^th century, so-called fluted or Maximilian armour became common. This type of armour was characterised by three-dimensionally curved surfaces, a wasp waist as well as a specific, decorative design that emphasised the three-dimensional shape of the armour. The fluting was the metal equivalent of the belted, pleated doublet of the time. It not only defined the visual appearance of the armour but also enhanced its solidness and resilience. The relatively rapid disappearance of fluted armour was due to the high costs involved in its production as well as to the firearms that were beginning to emerge at the time and which created new demands for how soldiers were equipped.