Mace (Gada)

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

This mace, or gada, is extremely top-heavy, so much that it would be impossible to use effectively as a weapon. It is perfectly weighted, however, for gada-yuddha, or mace training, a form of exercise and a martial art known in India for centuries and still practiced there today. Its beautiful workmanship and lavish decoration would have made it a fine training implement for a Hindu prince. Compare this mace, weighing just over 7 pounds, with another mace in the collection (36.25.1874), which is very similar in form, decoration, and size, but is evenly balanced and weighs less than 3 pounds.

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