Priming Flask

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Zoomorphic priming flasks of carved ivory, such as these, were among the first Mughal decorative arts to reach Europe, with numerous examples listed in princely collections of art and natural history dating from 1650. These small containers held fine-grain gunpowder used to set off (or prime) the main charge in the barrel. The flasks are typically carved with fantastic animals that merge into one another. The observed naturalism is characteristic of Mughal art.

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