Saber with Scabbard

Acem Oglu

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The blade is signed by its maker, Acem Oglu. The Arabic inscriptions decorating it include: "Oh from the gentle God whose gentleness is without end, You are the Powerful, we will love You in Your palace on the day of judgement." The foliate ornament on the guard and scabbard mounts shows the strong influence of European design in Turkish art of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.

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