Fauchard
An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art
Two rosettes pierce the long knife-like blade which has a spike set on a decoratively cut and pierced base at right angles to the back; between the blade and its socket are two trefoil-shaped lugs. The lower half of the blade, including the spike, is blued, chiseled, and damascened in gold; the decoration on each side includes flowers, grotesques, a sun, and a trophy composed of two conucopias and a flaming torch. An oval medallion on the right side is painted with the arms of the counts of Tiepolo, and that on the left side contains the arms of the counts of Valmarana, both ancient Venetian families. Above the arms of Valmarana is a helmet crested with a palm tree and scroll inscribed MODVS. The octagonal wooden shaft is covered with red velvet (now rubbed) and is studded with gilt iron nails. The palm tree was thought to grow stronger the more weight it bore, and so became an emblem for perserverence. Even more specific, in Italian symbolism, it seems to have been a gold palm on a blue background that stood for courage in the face of adverse fortune. The Latin motto Modus, "that way," emphasizes this virtue. This is one of six identical staff weapons now in the Metropolitan Museum, of which four were purchased in 1860 by William Riggs from Prince Peter Soltykoff, who in turn had acquired them directly from the Tiepolo Palace in Venice. Not all of the heraldic arms on these are the same. Three of them have medallions damascened in gold with the following arms: on the left side, or, a fess sable; on the right side, sable, a lion rampant or. These arms unfortunately have not yet been identified. The three others, including this example, have these same gold-damascened arms painted over with the arms of Tiepolo and Valmarana. In light of the evidence we must conclude that these were originally made for the palace guard of one family, and were subsequently acquired by the Tiepolo family, who added their own arms and those of the Valmarana family, with whom the Tiepolo were probably intermarried) over those of the previous owners.
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.