Cuirass

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

By the end of the fifteenth century, one-piece breastplates had mostly replaced the two-piece Gothic form. The shape of this breastplate, particularly the boldly boxed borders at the neck and arms, is characteristic of the new type created in Italy and emulated in Flanders.

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