Close Helmet for a Cuirassier

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The form and construction of this helmet are typical for an Italian heavy cavalry helmet of good quality from the early seventeenth century. Highly unusual, however, are the engraved and gilded letters and monograms that decorate its russet surface. These probably represent the name or motto of an Italian or French nobleman, but their meaning, perhaps the key to the owner's identity, remain to be discovered.

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