Cavalry Officer's Saber

John Lynch

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

This saber exemplifies the appeal of simple hilt designs in America from the Colonial to the Federal era, and is remarkable among the handful of comparable sabers that survive for the fact that it is the only known example of its type with a signed hilt. The work of John Lynch, a Baltimore silversmith and watch and clock-maker, the hilt is closely related in form and even decoration to that of the saber of Captain Thorndick Chase of Baltimore (1755–1838) in the Maryland Historical Society, and to the hilts of a few additional specimens, which are traditionally thought to have been made in Philadelphia. It occupies a special place in Lynch's work, as his silver hilts for swords and another saber customarily feature eagle-shaped pommels and grips of ivory.

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