War Hat

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Little is known about armor-making in Spain, and the majority of securely identifiable Spanish examples date from the late fifteenth century. War hats of this type, with either round or pointed bowls and deeply sloped brims, are uniquely Spanish and are frequently decorated with applied bands of gilt copper around the base of the bowl and the edge of the brim. This helmet has lost these appliqués, for which only rivet holes (now filled with modern copper rivets) remain. Struck three times on the right side at the back is an armorer's mark: a crowned letter. The front of the bowl is filled with a brow plate covered on its outer face with red textile, possibly part of the original lining.

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