Shield (Dhàl)

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Shields of thick, extremely hard ox, antelope, or rhinoceros hide were often preferred in India over those made of steel. The small size of this example, with its deeply convex profile and turned-out edges that could snare an opponent’s weapon, suggests a date after about 1750. The black lacquered surface is decorated with raised medallions containing a Persian poem referring to “the garden of Bengal,” indicating that it was probably made in that province in northeast India.

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