Frontal Plate from a Shaffron (Horse's Head Defense)
Unknown Artist
16th–17th century
Medium
Iron, gold, silver
Dimensions
H. 16 1/4 (41.3 cm); W. 5 3/8 in. (13.7 cm); Wt. 1 lb. 10.3 oz. (745.6 g)
Classification
Equestrian Equipment-Shaffrons
Culture
Tibetan
Department
Arms and Armor
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Purchase, Arthur Ochs Sulzberger Gift, 2008
Accession Number
2008.291
Art Historical Context
This elegant frontal plate from a shaffron, a protectivepiece for warhorses hails from Tibet in 16th–17th century. Craft from iron inlaid with shimmering gold and silver, it just 16¼ inches high and weighs about 1.6 pounds, designed to shield a horse's forehead while allowing mobility on the battlefield. Now housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Arms and Armor Department, it exemplifies the fusion of utility and artistry in equestrian gear. In Tibetan culture, horses were vital for warfare, nomadic life, and elite ceremonies, making their armor a status symbol for warriors and nobility. ...