War Hat

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Said to have been found in Lake Morat, Switzerland, this helmet traditionally has been considered Swiss and of mid-fifteenth-century date. However, the presence of similarly large, deep helmets of this general type in fourteenth- and early-fifteenth-century Italian paintings suggests that both the attribution and date are subject to further review. The steel surface retains traces of its original tinning, an early form of rustproofing.

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