Trellised Targe for the Tilt

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

In keeping score at tournaments, the heralds awarded extra points if a lance struck solidly enough to break. The raised trellislike bands on this tilt targe were intended to catch the lance, making it more likely to shatter. The areas within the trellis are finely etched with an inventive menagerie of real and fantastic animals, including a lion, a horse, a griffin, and an imperial double-headed eagle.

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