Saber

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Swords are appropriated through the recycling of materials and as spoils of war. Therefore it is no surprise that this sword has a precious Mughal grip made of black jade and a gold Ottoman guard that reads in naskhi script: "Sultan son of Sultan son of Sultan son of Suleiman Khan"; and on the back: "the name of God most compassionate and merciful." Although the name of an Ottoman sultan appears on the guard, it is not an indication of the provenance of the sword. Islamic devotional inscriptions dominate the decorative motifs of arms and armor. Efficacious prayers protect the soldier from the evils of war. The inscriptions on the elegant steel blade indicate the sword's talismanic function. In square kufic script, the inscriptions state the proclamation of faith along with the valuable Qur'anic Throne verse (2:255), all damascened in gold. The back of the blade, in gold, is stamped with the Seal of Solomon (a six-pointed star) and various cartouches invoking the name of God.

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