Lamp

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

In the 1920s armor and weapons from Crusader times were unavailable on the art market and knowledge of them was minimal. Seeking to address these gaps, curator Bashford Dean proposed an excavation at Montfort, a Crusader castle in what was then Palestine under British Mandate. The monthlong excavation was judged a "dismal failure" from a collecting standpoint, producing only clumps of rusted mail, various arrow, spear, javelin, and bolt heads, and dozens of stone catapult projectiles. Much was learned, however, about the living conditions of the Crusaders in the Holy Land, whose lifestyle was similar to what it would have been in Europe. The castle, for example, was decorated with European-style stained glass and architectural reliefs made of local materials. Domestic furnishings included fine locally made glassware and ceramics.

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