Guisarme
Unknown Artist
16th century
Medium
Steel, wood, textile, metallic thread
Dimensions
L. 96 1/4 in. (244.5 cm); L. of head 34 1/4 in. (87 cm); W. 10 in. (25.4 cm); Wt. 5 lbs. 7.3 oz. (2474.9 g)
Classification
Shafted Weapons
Culture
Italian
Department
Arms and Armor
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Mrs. Robert de Forest, 1914
Accession Number
14.145
Art Historical Context
Step into the riveting world of Renaissance warfare with this 16th-century Italian *Guisarme*, a masterful shafted weapon now housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Arms and Armor Department. Measuring an imposing 96¼ inches in length—with a hefty head spanning 34¼ inches—this steel-tipped polearm, weighing just over 5 pounds, was designed for battlefield versatility. Its broad, hooked blade could slash, stab, or pull mounted knights from their horses, embodying the evolution of medieval weaponry into the Renaissance era. Crafted by an unknown Italian artisan, the guisarme highlights exce...