Saber with Scabbard

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

This is a classic example of a high-quality Iranian saber (shamshir) from the eighteenth century. The blade of crucible (“watered”) steel bears the names of the legendary Iranian swordsmith Asadullah of Isfahan and his patron Shah 'Abbas I of Persia (r. 1588–1629). As Asadullah’s name is found on blades inscribed with dates ranging from the fifteenth to the nineteenth century, it is likely that most of the signatures are false.

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