Burgonet for the Farnese Guard

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

This triple-combed burgonet is part of an extensive series of similarly embossed parade helmets thought to have been made for the guard of Pier Luigi Farnese (1525–1547), who ruled briefly as duke of Parma and Piacenza in 1545 until his assassination in 1547. The fleur-de-lis at the sides is the heraldic emblem of the Farnese family. Ninety-six helmets of this type were recorded in an inventory of the Farnese armory in 1731, twenty-four of which are today in the Museo di Capodimonte, Naples.

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