# Bishop's Mantle (Cape)

- Date: c. 1520–30
- Medium: riveted steel (some brass) rings; reinforced collar
- Classification: Arms and Armor
- Dimensions: Overall (display): 55.9 x 53.3 x 27.9 cm (22 x 21 x 11 in.); Laid flat: 95.8 cm (37 11/16 in.); Diameter: 1 cm (3/8 in.)
- Culture: European (German or Swiss?), early 16th century
- Credit line: Gift of Mr. and Mrs. John L. Severance
- Museum: [Cleveland Museum of Art](https://clevelandart.org/art/1921.1256)
- Rights: [Public domain (CC0)](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- Picture: https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1921.1256/1921.1256_web.jpg
- Who can see it: Tweens profiles and older (museums give no ratings; placed by Invisible Network from the museum's own words)

Chain mail capes known as "bishop's mantles" were popular with German mercenary foot soldiers between about 1500 and 1550. They were often worn as the only element of armor.