Sword Hilt
Unknown Artist
possibly 13th–14th century
Medium
Iron, gold, silver
Dimensions
L. 4 3/4 in. (12.1 cm); W. 1 3/4 in. (4.5 cm); Wt. 7.5 oz. (212.6 g)
Classification
Swords
Culture
Tibetan, Mongolian, or Chinese
Department
Arms and Armor
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Purchase, Bashford Dean Memorial Collection, Funds from various donors, by exchange; Media Marketing Assessment Gift; funds from various donors; and funds from various donors, by exchange, 1999
Accession Number
1999.31
Art Historical Context
This exquisite sword hilt, dating possibly to the 13th–14th century, hails from the dynamic cultures of Tibet, Mongolia, or China Crafted from sturdy iron inlaid or overlaid with shimmering gold and silver, it just 4¾ inches long (12.1 cm) and weighs 7.5 ounces (212.6 g), comfortably in the hand of a warrior. Now housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's and Armor Department, it exemplifies the masterful metalworking of Central Asia during a time of empire-building and nomadic prowess. The hilt's luxurious materials speak to its status as more than mere weaponry—it was likely a symbol of pow...