Vambraces (French: avant-bras, sometimes known as lower cannons during the Middle Ages) are protections for the forearms. They were worn as part of a complete plate armour and were often connected to gloves (gauntlets).
In a complete armour, vambraces could be combined or not with separate counters (elbow cops).
The use of vambraces dates back to the early 14th century. They were then made from boiled leather or steel, with leather vambraces sometimes reinforced with strips of hardened leather or metal, resulting in what's called splint-armour.
During the late Middle Ages, vambraces for nobles were sometimes lavishly decorated with intricate patterns and ornaments, befitting their social status and the fashion of that time.
