Pair of Crupper Pendants

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Made of delicately chiseled and pierced iron covered in a thin layer of gold, the quality, detail and fine execution of these crupper pendants rank them among the best examples of decorated Tibetan ironwork. Crupper pendants would hang from the straps behind the saddle on either side of a horse, resting on the horse's hindquarters between the hip and flank. Pendants as elaborate and complete as these are extremely rare and would have been part of only the most expensive and important sets of horse equipment.

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