Reinforce for a Helmet (Gupfe)

Mattheus Frauenpreis the Elder

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

This exquisitely decorated plate fit as a reinforce over the bowl of a helmet for the tournament on foot. It belongs to an armor made for Maximilian II (1527–1576, emperor from 1564) upon his election as king of Bohemia in 1549. The major elements of the armor, a garniture for field and tournament use, are in the former imperial armory in Vienna.

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