Helmet
Unknown Artist
15th–17th century
Medium
Iron
Dimensions
H. 11 3/4 in. (29.8 cm); W. 7 15/16 in. (20.2 cm); D. 9 in. (22.9 cm); Wt. 2 lb. 7 oz. (1105.6 g)
Classification
Helmets
Culture
Mongolian
Department
Arms and Armor
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Purchase, Arthur Ochs Sulzberger Gift, 2005
Accession Number
2005.271
Art Historical Context
This striking iron helmet, crafted by an unknown Mongolian artisan between the 15th and 17th centuries, exemplifies rugged ingenuity of nomadic warriors in Central Asia. Measuring just 11¾ inches high, 7⅞ inches wide, and inches deep, it weighs practical 2 pounds 7—light enough for mounted combat yet robust enough to deflect blows. Forged from iron, a material prized for its durability in harsh steppes environments, the helmet reflects the technical prowess of Mongolian metalworkers during a time of shifting empires and enduring tribal traditions. In the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Arms and...