This armour is one of a series featuring the Biblical scene of Daniel in the Lions' Den and was most likely made for the personal elite guard of Duke Julius of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel (1528–1589).  Its decoration is of exceptional quality.  A number of allegorical and classical figures, including Hercules, Venus and Victory, appear alongside trophies and classical heads with wreaths of laurel.  The etcher responsible would have been a member of the Brunswick painters’ guild.  The guild accepted an etched ‘heavy field armour (Curitz) or light field armour (Drabbharnisch)' as a master piece, which suggests that decorating armour was a significant source of employment for its members.  Among them was Franz Bock, the most likely decorator of this armour.  He and other Brunswick armour etchers drew their designs from a range of popular graphic sources, including engravings by artists like Daniel Hopfer (c.1470-1536) and prints by Heironymus Cock (1518-1570).