Warriors of the Himalayas: Rediscovering the Arms and Armor of Tibet

Lamellar Armor and Helmet

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Lamellar Armor and Helmet, possibly 16th–17th century
Tibetan
Iron and leather; H. approx. 59 in. (149.9 cm)
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
Bequest of George C. Stone, 1935 (36.25.53a, b)

Lamellar Armor

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Lamellar Armor, possibly 16th–17th century
Tibetan
Iron and leather; H. 38 in. (96.5 cm)
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
Arthur Ochs Sulzberger Gift (2001.318)

Helmet

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Helmet, 15th–17th century
Mongolian
Iron and gold; H. 7 5/8 in. (19.5 cm)
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
Purchase, Gift of William H. Riggs, by exchange, 1999 (1999.120)

Domed Cane Shield

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Domed Cane Shield, possibly 15th–18th century
Tibetan
Cane, iron, brass, silver, pigments, and leather; Diam. 24 in. (61 cm), H. 10 3/4 in. (27.3 cm)
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
Purchase, Arthur Ochs Sulzberger Gift, 2005 (2005.145)

Head Defense for a Horse (Shaffron)

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Head Defense for a Horse (Shaffron), 15th–17th century
Tibetan or Mongolian
Iron, leather, gold, brass or copper alloy, and textile; H. 22 1/2 in. (57.2 cm), W. 24 7/8 in. (63.2 cm)
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
Purchase, Arthur Ochs Sulzberger Gift, 2004 (2004.402)

Breast Defense (Peytral) from a Horse Armor

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Breast Defense (Peytral) from a Horse Armor, 15th–17th century
Tibetan or Mongolian
Leather, iron, brass or copper alloy, silver, gold, shellac, pigments, textile, and hair; H. 22 1/2 in. (57.2 cm), W. 25 5/8 in. (65.1 cm)
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
Purchase, Bashford Dean Memorial CollectionFunds from various donors, by exchange, 1999 (1999.36)

Mail Shirt

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Mail Shirt, 17th–19th century
Possibly Indian or Bhutanese
Iron, leather, and textile; H. 35 1/2 in. (90.2 cm)
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
Bequest of George C. Stone, 1935 (36.25.27)

Armored Cavalryman

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Armored Cavalryman, 18th–19th century
Tibetan, with Bhutanese, Nepalese, and Chinese elements
Iron, gold, copper alloy, wood, leather, and textile
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
Bequest of George C. Stone, 1935 (36.25.25, .28, .351, .476, .583a–c, h–k, .842a–c, .2174, .2416, .2505, and .2557); Bequest of Joseph V. McMullan, 1974 (1974.160.10, saddle rug only); and Gift of Mrs. Faïe J. Joyce, 1970 (1970.164.7a, b, boots only)

Knee or Shoulder Defense

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Knee or Shoulder Defense, 13th–15th century
Possibly Mongolian or Chinese
Iron, gold, and silver; H. 5 1/4 in. (13.3 cm), W. 6 3/4 in. (17.1 cm)
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
Rogers Fund, by exchange, 1998 (1998.2)

Sword Guard

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Sword Guard, 14th–15th century
Tibetan or Chinese
Iron, gold, silver, and copper; H. 3 1/8 in. (7.9 cm), W. 4 3/4 in. (12.1 cm)
The Kronos Collections

Sword

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Sword (detail), 14th–16th century
Tibetan or Chinese
Iron, gold, and silver; L. overall 34 7/8 in. (88.6 cm), blade L. 29 1/2 in. (74.9 cm)
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
Purchase, Rogers Fund and Fletcher Fund, by exchange, 1995 (1995.136)

Spearhead

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Spearhead, 17th–18th century
Tibetan
Iron, gold, and silver; L. 27 1/8 in. (68.9 cm)
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
Purchase, Arthur Ochs Sulzberger and the Sulzberger Foundation Inc. Gifts, and Rogers Fund (1999.256a, b)

Barrel from a Ceremonial Musket

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Barrel from a Ceremonial Musket (detail), 17th–19th century
Tibetan
Iron, gold, copper, and silver; L. 29 1/8 in. (74 cm)
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
Purchase, Arthur Ochs Sulzberger Gift, 2005 (2005.143)

Set of Saddle Plates

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Set of Saddle Plates, ca. 1400
Tibetan or Chinese
Iron, gold, lapis lazuli, and turquoise; H. as mounted 9 7/8 in. (25 cm)
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
Purchase, Gift of William H. Riggs, by exchange, and Kenneth and Vivian Lam Gift, 1999 (1999.118)

Saddle

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Saddle, 18th–19th century
Tibetan
Iron, gold, copper, turquoise, wood, leather, and textile; H. 15 in. (38.1 cm), L. 23 1/2 in. (59.7 cm), W. 17 3/4 in. (45.1 cm)
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
Bequest of George C. Stone, 1935 (36.25.583a, b)

Saddle Plate

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Saddle Plate, 17th–18th century
Chinese or Tibetan
Iron, gold, and silver; H. 3 1/2 in. (8.9 cm), W. 4 1/4 in. (10.8 cm)
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
Purchase, Kenneth and Vivian Lam Gift, 2002 (2002.17.20)

Sword

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Sword, probably 19th–early 20th century
Tibetan
Iron, gold, wood, and ray skin; L. 35 1/2 in. (90.2 cm)
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
Purchase, Arthur Ochs Sulzberger Gift, 2003 (2001.230.1a, b)

Pair of Stirrups

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Pair of Stirrups, possibly 12th–14th century
Tibetan or Mongolian
Iron, gold, and silver; H. 6 1/2 in. (16.5 cm)
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
Purchase, Gift of William H. Riggs, by exchange, and funds from various donors, 1999 (1999.119a, b)

Four Harness Fittings

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Four Harness Fittings, 15th–17th century
Tibetan
Iron, gold, leather, and copper; L. 3 1/8 in. (7.9 cm) to 2 1/8 in. (5.4 cm)
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
Purchase, Kenneth and Vivian Lam Gift, 2002 (2002.17.4, .7, .10, .16)

Bridle

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Bridle, 15th–17th century
Tibetan
Leather, iron, and gold; H. 21 in. (53.3 cm), W. 19 in. (48.3 cm)
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
Purchase, Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, by exchange, 1998 (1998.282)