Spearhead (<i>Mdung Rtse</i>)

Spearhead (<i>Mdung Rtse</i>)

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The decoration of this spearhead is crisply engraved and its entire exterior surface is finely crosshatched and damascened in gold, including the undecorated areas. The motifs include a symmetrical arrangement of stylized flames running up both sides of the blade, with a simplified version of the Sword of Wisdom along the central ridge.

Arms and Armor

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

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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.