In the exhibition Master Trial – An armor is created shown is a reconstruction of a 1500th century suit of armour, made in the present day by armourer Albert Collins. You get to see the finished armor, reconstructions of the undergarments and tools that have been used. You can experience what it's like to hold a wheellock gun with an armor glove, and in pictures and videos you can see the manufacturing that has taken place using traditional methods, with reconstructed 1500th century tools.
The models for Albert Collins' armor are two armors made for Erik XIV in the 1560s, which are in the Livrustkammaren in Stockholm. The armor is part of an armor set. As shown in the exhibit, it is adapted for jousting on foot, a type of jousting where you try to break your sword against your opponent's armor. The model for the helmet, Erik XIV's helmet, has many slash marks on the crest and visor from just this type of tournament. Part of the exhibition shows the different uses the armor has and its armament.
An armor is not complete without its undergarments, therefore it was decided early in the project that these would also be reconstructed. The model for these is the so-called Sturedräkterna, garments that were preserved after Erik XIV had the sture executed at Uppsala Castle in 1567 and which are on display in Uppsala Cathedral. The black silk sweater and the black-painted moose skin trousers are displayed on a separate mannequin so that these can be studied up close.
There is also history here about the royal armor workshops in Arboga, founded by King Gustav Vasa. How have the German armor masters in Arboga stylistically influenced the way the Swedish-made armor looks?
The master's exam is based on a project where Albert Collins made a whole suit of armor. In September 2020, he received his master's certificate in armorsmithing, thus becoming the first in Sweden with this official title since Olof Berg, master armorsmith in Stockholm, died in 1781.
The exhibition is produced by armor makers Albert Collins together with The life rust chamber, and has previously been shown at Livrustkammaren.