Elements from a Garniture Made for Christian I of Saxony (1560–1591)

Anton Peffenhauser

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Peffenhauser was among the most celebrated and long-lived armorers of Augsburg, a city famous for its armor-makers. The pieces displayed here are thought to be part of a garniture commissioned by Elector August of Saxony (1526–1586) in 1582. Because of its slender proportions, the armor is assumed to have been ordered as a present for the elector’s son, Christian (1560–1591), who later succeeded his father as archduke and elector of Saxony. These elements were intended for light cavalry or infantry use. The original garniture also included a complete armor for heavy cavalry with exchange pieces for the tournament, parts of which are still preserved in the Saxon Electoral Armory in Dresden.

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