Escutcheon Plate with the Device of Ottheinrich, Count Palatine of the Rhine (1502–1559)

Escutcheon Plate with the Device of Ottheinrich, Count Palatine of the Rhine (1502–1559)

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Initially intended to reinforce the shaffron in the vulnerable forehead region, escutcheon plates became increasingly decorative in the sixteenth century, providing a prominent surface for heraldic display, personal emblems, and devices. This example is etched with an hourglass, and the (abbreviated) motto Mit der Zeit ("with time," in the sense of "all in good time")––the device of Ottheinrich (1502–1559), Count Palatine of the Rhine.

Arms and Armor

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Escutcheon Plate with the Device of Ottheinrich, Count Palatine of the Rhine (1502–1559)Escutcheon Plate with the Device of Ottheinrich, Count Palatine of the Rhine (1502–1559)Escutcheon Plate with the Device of Ottheinrich, Count Palatine of the Rhine (1502–1559)Escutcheon Plate with the Device of Ottheinrich, Count Palatine of the Rhine (1502–1559)Escutcheon Plate with the Device of Ottheinrich, Count Palatine of the Rhine (1502–1559)

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.