The Master of Steel: The Life and Legacy of Wolfgang Grossschedel In the heart of Renaissance Bavaria, where the clanging of hammers against anvils provided the rhythmic soundtrack to a burgeoning era of artistic splendor, one name emerged as the preeminent architect of protection: Wolfgang Grossschedel. A master of plattnering—the sophisticated art of crafting armor—Grossschedel did not merely forge defensive gear; he sculpted steel into wearable masterpieces that bridged the gap between martial necessity and high Renaissance aesthetics. Born in Landshut around 1517, his journey from a loca…