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The Vatican's Swiss Guard
http://www.irishtimes.com/blogs/gallery/files/2013/01/guard630.jpgA Swiss guard amid preparations for Pope Benedict XVI leading his Wednesday general audience in Paul VI's Hall at the Vatican, which has contracted an Austrian company to handmake new guards’ armour. Most of the existing armour worn by the Pontifical Swiss Guard dates back at least 100 years, when people were generally smaller than they are today. Photograph: Giampiero Sposito/Reuters
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An official force
http://www.irishtimes.com/blogs/gallery/files/2013/01/dressing630.jpgNew recruits of the Vatican's Swiss Guard prepare uniforms inside their barracks before a swearing-in ceremony. The Swiss Guard, founded in 1506, consists of 100 volunteers who must be Swiss nationals, Catholic, single, at least 174 cm (5 ft 8 in) tall and beardless. New recruits are sworn in every year on May 6th, commemorating the date on which 147 Swiss soldiers died defending the Pope during an attack on Rome on May 6th, 1527. Photograph: Alessandro Bianchi/Reuters
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Looking back to antiquity
http://www.irishtimes.com/blogs/gallery/files/2013/01/forge630.jpgThe Schmiede Schmidberger blacksmith’s forge in Molln, Austria. The family operation is to manufacture 80 new sets of armour in a project that will reportedly take seven years to complete. Schmiede Schmidberger has been in existence since the year 1350. Photograph: Mathias Kniepeiss/Getty Images
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Forging off the plans
http://www.irishtimes.com/blogs/gallery/files/2013/01/drawing630.jpgOne of the artisans shows details of a rough armour sketch. Photograph: Mathias Kniepeiss/Getty Images
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The working environment
http://www.irishtimes.com/blogs/gallery/files/2013/01/tools630.jpgTools hang in the Schmiede Schmidberger forge. They wouldn’t have looked that different many hundreds of years ago. Photograph: Mathias Kniepeiss/Getty Images
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Heat of the moment
http://www.irishtimes.com/blogs/gallery/files/2013/01/forger630.gifBlacksmith Johann Schmidberger snr crafting an element of armour. Photograph: Mathias Kniepeiss/Getty Images
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Like father, like son
http://www.irishtimes.com/blogs/gallery/files/2013/01/hammering630.gifGeorg Schmidberger works out on a piece of metal. Photograph: Mathias Kniepeiss/Getty Images
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By process of alchemy
http://www.irishtimes.com/blogs/gallery/files/2013/01/fire630.jpgThe blacksmith's art stretches back to antiquity and beyond. Photograph: Mathias Kniepeiss/Getty Images
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Base metal to brilliance
http://www.irishtimes.com/blogs/gallery/files/2013/01/hood630.jpgWorking in a forge is most certainly not for everybody. Photograph: Mathias Kniepeiss/Getty Images
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Getting in close
http://www.irishtimes.com/blogs/gallery/files/2013/01/detail630.jpgHow many guards will spend how many hours polishing this? Photograph: Mathias Kniepeiss/Getty Images
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Fit for the Vatican
http://www.irishtimes.com/blogs/gallery/files/2013/01/armour630.jpgA gleaming example rises from the noise, smoke and heat. Photograph: Mathias Kniepeiss/Getty Images
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Artisanal excellence
http://www.irishtimes.com/blogs/gallery/files/2013/01/result630.jpgGeorg, Johann snr and Johann Schmidberger jnr line up with examples of their exquisite workmanship. Photograph: Mathias Kniepeiss/Getty Images
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Dramatic effect
http://www.irishtimes.com/blogs/gallery/files/2013/01/lineout630.jpgNo doubt the new armour will look just as imposing as this when it is complete – after seven years of work. Photograph: Paul Hanna/Reuters
