Helmet for a Harquebusier

Royal Workshops at Greenwich

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Harquebusiers were the last type of cavalry to wear armor in England before it went out of use in the mid- to late seventeenth century. This harquebusier's helmet is rare and important for its richly engraved bands of decoration covered in silver and for the high quality of its workmanship overall. These features suggest it was made in the royal workshops at Greenwich, which were established by Henry VIII in 1511 and were in service until the 1640s.

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