Close-Helmet for the Field

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The two-piece construction of the helmet bowl, the scalloped edges of the plates, and the distinctive snub-nosed profile of the visor recall French helmets of about 1620–30. The reinforcing shot-proof plates screwed to either side of the bowl, which add 3 pounds 10 ounces (1675 g) to the overall weight, are rare on close-hlemets for cuirassiers. Beneath the reinforces, the original smooth blue-black surface of the bowl is preserved.

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