About the Collection
The Met adopts the broadest possible definition of art and nowhere is that more apparent than in the Arms and Armor gallery where swords, guns and even cannons occupy the space other galleries reserve for Velasquez or Dali. Art and war have a close and abusive relationship: art generally criticizes war-mongering while war continues to destroy some of humanity’s greatest creative works. This gallery is where the two fields of study find a tenuous peace: artistic genius using implements of war as its medium. While popular throughout Europe, few historical armories exist in North America and none of them rival the Met’s collection.
What You Will See
Nearly every weapon used after Roman times through that age of industrialized warfare is on display: axes, maces, long swords, daggers, javelins, rifles, pistols and a vast array of armor styles. The weapons you see here are not actually artifacts of war—this is an art museum, not a history museum—but rather custom-made ornamental and decorative works. The centerpiece of the collection is the parade armor of knights and horses dating from Renaissance Europe. But the collection extends well beyond that period, with many impressive examples of Japanese workmanship as well as entries from colonial and frontier America and Islamic work. The beauty of the metalwork, design, ornamentation and jeweled inlays do much to soften the harsh purposes of the objects.
Why You Should Go
Regardless of your interest in the subject the Arms and Armor is one of the galleries that uniquely define the Met. Even the most cursory museum highlight tour passes through this area and the parade armor is one of the most photographed displays in the building. The question is not whether you should visit; rather, it is how long you should spend here. A few minutes is enough to get a flavor, but a longer exploration through the side galleries reveals hidden treasures that go well beyond the iconic medieval armor. Like with the rest of the museum, the gallery allows you to contrast cultures around the globe and across time in a short visit.
