Lamellar Helmet

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Other than fragmentary excavated examples, few helmets of this type have survived, and virtually none is in as pristine condition as this one. The general type was in use from eastern Europe through Central Asia by the sixth century and may have remained in use in Tibet and among the Mongols and other Central Asian peoples as late as the seventeenth century. A carbon-14 test on a sample of the lacing from this helmet resulted in a date range of 1271 to 1431.

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