Hilt of a Gauntlet Sword (<i>Pata</i>)

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

A weapon unique to India, the gauntlet sword, or pata, is characterized by a hilt that fits snugly over the hand, wrist, and lower forearm like a rigid metal gauntlet, typically fitted with a long, straight, double-edged European blade. The majority of such hilts have a smooth outline comprising a bulbous section and a flaring semi-conical cuff. Often they are embellished with chiseled, raised, and pierced ornament, alone or in conjunction with damascening in gold or silver, differing widely in the extent and quality of the decoration. Very few gauntlet swords, however, have hilts that are embossed to represent animals, actual or mythical. Most of these are executed in steel, with the figures rendered in low relief in a very stylized fashion. This hilt is exceptional for its naturalistic rendering, worked almost fully in the round, of the lifelike head of an elephant with its tusks raised and its trunk extended, possibly representing the elephant-headed Hindu god, Ganesha. The fact that this hilt is made of copper alloy, rather than steel, strongly suggest that it was intended for ceremonial or ritual use and not for the battlefield.

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