Arm Guard (Dastana)

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

This type of arm guard, known as a dastana, was used throughout Turkey, Iran, and India. Its curved plate protected the outside of the forearm and is connected to a pair of shorter plates that guarded the inside of the wrist. The inscriptions on this example are incorporated into the gold decoration and the nail-head design on the mitten and include Qur’anic verses and the popular Shi‘i prayer Nad-i ‘Ali (Call upon ‘Ali).

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