Shaffron (Horse's Head Defense) of Ottheinrich, Count Palatine of the Rhine (1502–1559)

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

This shaffron is decorated with narrow bands of etched foliate ornament on a blackened, dotted ground in a manner associated with armor from Nuremberg. The decoration includes the date 1529 (in the center of the nose) and a shield emblazoned with the arms of the Palatinate and Bavaria (at the muzzle), indentifying the shaffron as having been made either for Ottheinrich (1502–1559) or for his brother Philipp (1503–1548), the two of whom co-ruled as counts palatine of the Rhine. It most likely comes from their large armory at Neuburg Castle, which rises over the Danube in the vicinity of Ingolstadt. Although the year 1529 was eventful for both siblings, it seems more probable that the armor to which this shaffron belongs was ordered by Ottheinrich for the ceremonies attendant with his wedding to Susanne, daughter of the duke of Bavaria, in that year.

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