Closed Burgonet of "Savoyard" Type

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

"Savoyard" helmets are a distinctive form of late Italian close-helmet worn by cuirassiers, the heavy cavalry outfitted with plate armor worn only to the knee and armed with pistols and swords. The term Savoyard is a reference to the large number of these helmets that the Swiss captured from the troops of the duke of Savoy during an unsuccessful assault on the city of geneva during the night of December 11–12, 1602. These helmets are also referred to as Todenkopf ("death's head," in German), an illusion to the eerie skull-like quality of the face defense. This example, which is unusual in having a fully embossed human nose, has a decidedly more cheerful countenance.

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