Bit Boss with Adam and Eve

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The central part of this bit boss, an ornamental element decorating the side of a horse bit, depicts Adam and Eve eating fruits given by the serpent, a lion walking behind the tree. This scene is directly inspired by a 1540 engraving by Heinrich Aldegrever, The Temptation of Adam and Eve, made after a drawing by Hans Brosamer. The same composition was also used by German founders on several contemporary bronze plaquettes.

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