Burgonet for a Cuirassier

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The surfaces are somewhat crudely etched with an overall pattern of strapwork cartouches enclosing trophies, all set against a cross-hatched ground. The decoration and the distinctive profile of the helmet are typically French. The baluster-shaped finial at the apex and large rayed washer below it are features also found on contemporary Flemish helmets and appear to be a conscious revival of the applied helmet ornaments depicted in Burgundian tapestries of the late fifteenth century. This example once belonged to the celebrated English painter Sir Richard Cosway, R.A. (1740–1821), who collected arms and armor as studio props for his history paintings.

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