Golden Lion Shield

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

This shield was probably fabricated in India, lacquered in Southeast Asia, then exported to Europe. It would have been prized as a European type of luxury item made in Asia with local techniques and materials. The black lacquer is emblazoned with an unidentified coat of arms featuring a gold lion on a red field below a helmet with foliate mantling, all encircled by a wide band of ornamental floral scrolls.

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