Saber with Scabbard and Carrying Belt

Georg Hoffmann

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

This is one of a series of twelve jeweled sabers made in Hungarian style for use at the Saxon court in Dresden. These twelve swords are recorded as having had new wrist chains added in 1687 and as having been used again in 1709. This example bears what may be the mark of Georg Hoffmann (recorded 1586–1609), a goldsmith working in Breslau (now Wrocław, Poland).

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