Rapier of Emperor Charles V (1500–1558)

Francesco Negroli

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

This rapier, from the workshop of the famous Milanese armorer Francesco Negroli, belonged to Emperor Charles V, whose troops laid siege to Florence in 1529–30. Rapiers were the principal civilian sidearm throughout the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Designed for cut-and-thrust techniques, a rapier typically has a double-edged blade with an acute point and an elaborate guard for the hand. The guards, usually of iron or steel, were subject to a variety of embellishment. They were engraved, chiseled, gilded, damascened, and encrusted in gold and silver in keeping with fashionable styles.

Arms and Armor

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The principal goals of the Arms and Armor Department are to collect, preserve, research, publish, and exhibit distinguished examples representing the art of the armorer, swordsmith, and gunmaker. Arms and armor have been a vital part of virtually all cultures for thousands of years, pivotal not only in conquest and defense, but also in court pageantry and ceremonial events. Throughout time the best armor and weapons have represented the highest artistic and technical capabilities of the society and period in which they were made, forming a unique aspect of both art history and material culture.

Metropolitan Museum of Art