Tomb Effigy of Jacquelin de Ferrière

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The counts of Ferrière come from near Montargis (Diocese of Sens) in northern France. Sir Jacquelin is represented in full mail armor. His hands, laid across his chest, are slipped through slits in the wrists of the sleeve. The horseshoes on the shield are a canting device, the heraldic term for a visual pun on an individual's name, in this case (fers-de-chevals).

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