Armorer's Shaping Stake
Unknown Artist
18th–19th century
Medium
Iron
Dimensions
H. 29 1/2 in. (74.9 cm); W. of head 21 1/2 in. (54.6 cm); Wt. 39 lb. (17.7 kg)
Classification
Miscellaneous
Culture
German or French
Department
Arms and Armor
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1912
Accession Number
12.230.129
Art Historical Context
Behold the **Armorer's Shaping Stake**, a robust iron tool from the 18th–19th century, likely crafted in Germany or France. Acquired through the Rogers Fund in 1912, this artifact now resides in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Arms and Armor Department. Standing 29½ inches tall with a broad 21½-inch head and weighing a hefty 39 pounds, it exemplifies the heavy-duty craftsmanship essential to the armorer's trade during an era when plate armor was still valued for ceremonial and parade purposes, even as firearms dominated battlefields. This shaping stake was a vital workbench companion for arm...