Siege Helmet

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Wearing this extremely thick, heavy helmet could not have been comfortable. The adjustable face defense alone weighs almost four pounds. The shallow dent at the front of the bowl is a proofmark. The form of the bowl is curiously archaic, recalling sallets of the fifteenth century (for example, acc. nos. 04.3.230 and 29.158.3a), whereas the sliding nasal––an Oriental innovation––is reversed, so that the enlarged finial has become the principal face defense (see acc. no. 14.25.601 for a typical sliding nasal). The bowl and face defense are both stamped with the number 21, indicating that the helmet was part of a series.

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