Armor of Henry Herbert (1534–1601), Second Earl of Pembroke

Armor of Henry Herbert (1534–1601), Second Earl of Pembroke

Royal Workshops at Greenwich

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

This armor was made for Henry Herbert (1534–1601) in the royal workshops at Greenwich. Originally, it consisted of a garniture for field and tournament. The present burgonet (helmet) and falling buffe (face defense) were designed for light cavalry and infantry use. Among the garniture’s missing elements are two close helmets and several reinforcing pieces for the tournament, similar to those preserved with the Cumberland garniture also in the Metropolitan Museum's collection (acc. no. 32.130.6a–y). Herbert’s antiquarian and heraldic interests are reflected in the armor’s decoration, which traces the lineage of the great Pembroke family through its complex coat of arms, consisting of twenty-two quarterings. The complete arms are displayed on the cheeks of the helmet, while individual quarterings are found on every element of the armor. The Order of the Garter, awarded to Herbert in 1574, also figures prominently in the decoration.

Arms and Armor

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Armor of Henry Herbert (1534–1601), Second Earl of PembrokeArmor of Henry Herbert (1534–1601), Second Earl of PembrokeArmor of Henry Herbert (1534–1601), Second Earl of PembrokeArmor of Henry Herbert (1534–1601), Second Earl of PembrokeArmor of Henry Herbert (1534–1601), Second Earl of Pembroke

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.