JAMES ARLEN GILLASPIE
Artist Metalsmith and Medieval Armour Maker
Maker of medieval armor, suits of armor, art metal jewelry for those for whom beauty is a primary concern.
Before I became a full time arms and armour restorer, I specialized in the design and fabrication of custom medieval and Renaissance armour, specifically full plate armour (I don't make 'chainmail', though I do some repairs on real mail, and know where to get mail). As you can see from the photos above, I've made armour in the English, German, Spanish and Italian styles, of the sort worn by knights and men-at-arms. I have done some film work. The most famous project I have worked on, to date, is the Infinity Gauntlet for the Marvel Avengers movie, 'Infinity Wars'. There were two full size 18 inch long gauntlets made for the film that appeared in those scenes in which the characters had to interact with an actual physical object. To be clear, I did not design the gauntlet. My job, under the direction of the project's leader, Tony Swatton, was to build the prototype of the body of the full size gauntlet (the embossing and other decorative details were done by other members of the team) and figure out how to make it so it would have proper movement. I also built most of one worn by Josh Brolin in the green screen sessions, likewise finished by the rest of the team. When it comes to fantasy armour, my experience is that it still has to conform to the unchanging ergonomics of the human body. I've provided photos and information on this site as a sampling of the armour I've created, as well as some of the other metalsmith projects I've completed. I've had hands-on experience with some of the world's most valuable armour, and my personal medieval armour designs reflect this experience. You can read more about me and even contact me here. I hope you enjoy the site. Cheers, James Arlen Gillaspie |
WWW.Jamesarlen.com