Forearm Guard for the Left Arm
Unknown Artist
possibly 15th–16th century
Medium
Leather, shellac, gold, pigment
Dimensions
L. 12 1/4 in. (31.1 cm)
Classification
Armor Parts
Culture
Tibetan or Mongolian
Department
Arms and Armor
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Purchase, Arthur Ochs Sulzberger Gift, 2005
Accession Number
2005.301.2
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite Forearm Guard for the Left Arm, dating possibly to the 15th–16th century, hails from Tibetan or Mongolian culture and exemplifies the masterful fusion of utility and artistry in Central Asian arms and armor. Crafted for a warrior's left arm, this protective piece measures 12¼ inches (31.1 cm) in length and now graces the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Arms and Armor Department, acquired through the Arthur Ochs Sulzberger Gift in 2005. In an era of frequent horseback warfare across the steppes and highlands, such guards shielded vital limbs during combat while reflecting the wearer...