Half-Shaffron (Horse's Head Defense)

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

This shaffron matches an Italian armor for man in the Metropolitan Museum (acc. no. 14.25.717) that is today mounted on horseback as part of the equestrian group in the main hall of the Arms and Armor Galleries. The slender bands etched with trophies of arms, vases, birds, and grotesque creatures on a dotted and blackened ground are typical decoration for Italian armor of the period. The shaffron is particularly noteworthy for preserving its original lining of coarse-woven linen filled with vegetable fiber. While nearly all armor was once lined in this way, very few original linings have survived. (The spike is modern; the gilding has been restored).

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