Elements of an Armor

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Few complete armors have survived from the fifteenth century, making this one important despite its fragmentary condition. It was reportedly found in an Austrian church. The pieces were probably assembled in the late fifteenth or early sixteenth century as a pious gift to be hung over the tomb of a knight. All the elements are characteristic of armor worn in central Europe and parts of western Europe in the late Gothic period. These include the separate head and neck defenses consisting of sallet and bevor, breastplate and backplate of overlapping sections, and cusped and channeled surfaces. The backplate is notable for its elegant silhouette and its fluting that imitates gathered folds of fabric.

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