Rapier

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

From the early sixteenth century onward, the practice of wearing a sword or rapier with civilian dress made duels between unarmored opponents more common. Lacking the armor or shield worn in battle, combatants had to block or parry an attack by other means. Methods of defense included the use of a dagger or a buckler held in the left hand and an increased reliance on parries made with the rapier itself. During the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, distinct schools of fencing developed rapidly in Italy, France, Germany, and Spain. Instruction in the art and science of fencing became an indispensable part of a nobleman’s education. Consequently, accomplished fencing masters were hired to teach at the principal courts and universities of Europe. From about 1525 to about 1625, the rapier was regularly worn in tandem with a parrying dagger. They were sometimes made and decorated as a set. By the mid-seventeenth century, however, parrying with the rapier blade alone had become the preferred style as a result of the development of refined fencing techniques and lighter, smaller rapiers. Most forms of left-hand parries were abandoned, except in southern Italy and Spain, where parrying daggers remained popular well into the eighteenth century.

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