Burgonet for the Guard of the Counts Khevenhüller zu Aichelberg

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The acorn and oak leaves embossed on the sides of the bowl are emblems of the noble Austrian family Khevenhüller zu Aichelberg (Aichel is German for "acorn"). A series of "black-and-white" armors mounted with similarly decorated burgonets or morions is preserved in the family's castle of Hochosterwitz, near Klagenfürt, in the Austrian state of Carinthia. Large numbers of standardized armors decorated with raised and brightly polished bands set off by the black-painted recessed surfaces were made for the German infantry (Landesknechte) in the second half of the sixteenth century. The majority were fabricated in Nuremberg, though similar harnesses were also made in the north (in the region of Brunswick) and even in Innsbruck. This example is unusal, in that its decoration is specific to its owner.

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