Powder Flask

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The consummate works of an anonymous French artist, this flask and another in the Metropolitan Museum's collection (acc. no. 14.25.1491) are made of polished antler, and expertly carved at the front. Whereas the latter sports the heraldic arms and personal emblem of its noble owner, this flask features a scene from the Old Testament, David's victory over the giant Goliath. As is often the case, the metal mountings that would have capped the flasks’s extremities are now lost.

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