Shaffron (Horse's Head Defense) with arms of the Freyberg family

Shaffron (Horse's Head Defense) with arms of the Freyberg family

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

This shaffron is fitted with an escutcheon plate bearing the arms of the barons of Freyberg. It comes from the armory at Hohenaschau Castle in Bavaria, the seat of that noble family, and probably belonged to Pancraz von Freyberg (1508–1565), a courtier in the service of the dukes of Bavaria in nearby Munich. Although unmarked, the shaffron is comparable in form to documented examples made in Landshut, a famous Bavarian armor-making center.

Arms and Armor

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Shaffron (Horse's Head Defense) with arms of the Freyberg familyShaffron (Horse's Head Defense) with arms of the Freyberg familyShaffron (Horse's Head Defense) with arms of the Freyberg familyShaffron (Horse's Head Defense) with arms of the Freyberg familyShaffron (Horse's Head Defense) with arms of the Freyberg family

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.