Don't let the name fool you, this is not a lantern being used as a shield! Nor is it a shield that resembles a lantern. Instead, it is a best-of-both-worlds creation unlike any other. Developed during the Italian Renaissance, this highly unusual armor piece was built for nighttime battles. The idea was to combine a round, or Buckler style shield, with a hook for a lantern which could obscure the opponent's sight. The Lantern Shield is one of history's oddities, and that's exactly what we like most about it!