Design for a Smallsword Hilt

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

This rare drawing gives us a glimpse of how an elegant sword hilt was custom designed for an individual client. On the left, the proposed hilt is seen in profile; on the right, its shell guard is shown from above. The notation on the lower right says: "The border and its design appear a little weak to me, but pay no heed to my opinion if it is not to your taste." The grammatically incorrect nature of the French indicates that the writer was someone with little formal education, perhaps the craftsman who was making the hilt or the merchant selling it.

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