Matthew DiGirolamo

The Ancient Armory

Matt DiGirolamo is a professional craftsman, researcher, and artist dedicated reconstructing the shield, as found in ancient cultures all throughout history and time. This includes researching materials, construction methods, economic contexts, and geographic influences that shaped ancient defensive technology. He gives talks on how to cross-reference modern & ancient materials pools, and the health benefits of crafting.
 
This project, lovingly referred to as "The Ancient Armory" begins in 2016. Matt locked in a remote tech job and his first apartment at the turn of the year, quickly identifying a need to counterbalance a full workday worth of screentime. He fostered a fascination with ancient history a year prior, and decided to make a shield with hand tools and plywood. Eventually, one project led to another and people took notice. Commissions started flowing in and the rest, as they say, is history.
 
This work with The Ancient Armory proved to be a door opener. Suddenly Matt had customers, was taking his craft to events, and attracting attention from high profile institutions. One of his crowning achievements was having the privilege of painting studio shields for a TV show called "Knight Fight", as seen on History. He painted the shields for Episodes 3 & 4, and provided Roman tunics for Episode 3. That was in 2018, and momentum has only grown since.
 
Today, The Ancient Armory is an LLC incorporated out of Maryland. Matt continues his work, from crafting, to public talks, and utilizing social media to draw in foot traffic. His endgame includes creating shields for museums and private collectors, as well as offering miniaturized pieces online.