Smallsword Hilt with Storage Case

Rundell, Bridge and Rundell

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Beaded steel hilts were an English specialty, beginning about 1775. This example retains its original fitted storage box, which would have been provided by the goldsmith or jeweler who sold it.

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