Arm Guard
Unknown Artist
18th century
Medium
Steel, gold
Dimensions
L. 13 1/4 in. (33.7 cm); W. 3 3/4 in. (9.5 cm); Wt. 1 lb. 1.6 oz. (499 g)
Classification
Armor Parts
Culture
Indian
Department
Arms and Armor
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of George C. Stone, 1935
Accession Number
36.25.406
Art Historical Context
This exquisite 18th-century Indian arm guard crafted from steel and gold, exemplifies the fusion of functionality and opulence in South Asian arms and armor. Measuring 13¼ inches long and weighing just over a pound, it was designed to shield a warrior's forearm during battle, its sturdy steel form providing vital protection while intricate gold elements added a layer of splendor. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Arms Armor department, it entered the collection through the bequest of George. Stone in 1935. In the turbulent 18th century, India was a mosaic of powerful empires and regi...