Standard (<i>Alem</i>)

Standard (<i>Alem</i>)

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

This standard head formerly surmounted a long wood shaft carrying an Ottoman banner. The palmetto-shaped head, which is hollow, is engraved on each side with a motto proclaiming: “There is no god but God, and Muhammad is the messenger of God.”

Arms and Armor

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

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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.