Crossbow

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The slender and elongated stock, or tiller, and the long release lever indicate that this crossbow dates from around the middle of the fifteenth century. It belongs to a group of weapons distinguished by inlaid panels decorated with flamelike extensions and probably all made in the region of present-day Austria.

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