Sallet

Hans Blarer the Younger

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

During the fifteenth century, the city of Basel, which became part of the Swiss Confederation in 1501, was a thriving center for armor making. Despite this fact, almost no armor from Basel can be identified today. The maker's mark on this helmet allows it to be recognized as the only known surviving helmet made by an armorer of Basel. It also demonstrates that armor from Basel could be of comparable quality to that from such well-known centers as Innsbruck, Augsburg, and Nuremberg, examples of which are also displayed in gallery 373.

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