Hunting Sword with Scabbard

Joseph Deutschmann

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Very similar sword grips of ivory, carved with fanciful Rococo ornament of shells and waves, are recorded in the armory of the prince-elector of Bavaria in Munich in the 1740s. The lion at the top of the grip holds a crescent moon beneath its paw, probably alluding to recent European victories over the Ottoman Turks in Eastern Europe.

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