Ceremonial Mace

Ceremonial Mace

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

This ceremonial mace is a rare example fashioned entirely from rock crystal. Rock crystal was often carved to produce luxurious objects, including an Islamic, perhaps Fatimid, mace that became part of the Hungarian royal regalia. Several detached rock-crystal mace heads are known, among them a probably tenth- to eleventh-century Iranian example in the Metropolitan Museum's collection (acc. no. 1981.86). Most likely from Mughal India, this mace has a haft that is decorated in a style found on several Indian maces and axes now in the Wallace Collection, London (nos. 1563 and 1595). A very similar ovoid head is on an all-steel Indian mace dated 1880 and now in the Khalili Collection, London (no. MTW 1130). The ovoid shape, however, is not confined to India; similar mace heads are known from Bukhara as well. Much earlier examples of ovoid mace heads exist, probably from the eleventh or twelfth century, among them a Seljuq mace in the Furusiyya Art Foundation, Vaduz (no. R-101). It is likely that this is a Central Asian type imported into India by the Mughals, who originally came from Bukhara. The debased acanthus leaves with which the rock-crystal shaft of this example is decorated preclude a dating to the grand period of Mughal art during the seventeenth century. Consequently a later dating, provisionally to the eighteenth century, is suggested.

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.