Basket-hilted Sword

Johannes Wundes the Younger

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

English hilts of this type, with chiseled ornament featuring portrait medallions, are often referred to as mortuary swords. The term seems to be an invention of nineteenth-century collectors and refers to a supposed likeness between King Charles I (executed in 1649) and the portrait medallions on the hilts.

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