Capital of a Column with an Armored Knight on Each Side

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Bashford Dean (1867–1928), founding curator of the Department of Arms and Armor, formerly owned this early medieval capital. As part of his large private collection of arms and armor, Dean eagerly sought out and acquired works of art, which he called documents, if they accurately depicted historical armor and weapons, particularly rare or early types. In this case, the capital is carved with an armored cavalryman, equipped with a teardrop-shaped shield, and shows features that were characteristic of the eleventh and twelfth 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