Ceremonial Armor

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

This armor, undoubtedly for a high-ranking military official, is exhibited with an associated helmet decorated with applied gold ornaments. These include the Buddhist mantra Om mani padme hum in Lantsa characters, which were often used for sacred inscriptions and texts in Tibet, China, and other Buddhist countries. The armor and helmet are very similar to a set donated by the Qinglong emperor to a Tibetan monastery in 1757.

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