Pair of Gauntlets

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

These small gauntlets belong to an armor for foot tournament made for the seven-year-old heir to the Spanish throne, the future Philip III (1578–1621, king from 1598). The decoration is typically Milanese, with bands of chiseled and gold-damascened trophy and grotesque ornament outlined with silver dots. A figure of Mars, god of war, is seen at the top of each cuff.

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