Breastplate with applied stop-rib

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

This early example of a one-piece breastplate comes from a large horde of armor found in the fortress of the Order of the Knights of Saint John of Jerusalem on the Mediterranean island of Rhodes, which fell to the Ottomans in 1522. The V-shaped stop rib would deflect the points of weapons away from the neck.

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