Exhibitions: European Arms and Armor

May 11, 1933: An important loan exhibition of European Arms and Armor will be shown at the Brooklyn Museum through the summer. The exhibition will open to the public the 12th of June and will continue through August.

Splendid examples of the period from 1475 to about 1625 including swords, daggers, shafted weapons and fire arms, as well as suits of armor be shown. In the latter the two famous periods of armor are represented, these being the Gothic type and the so-called Maximillian types. The simplicity of the Gothic type with its pointed terminals and staunch workmanship contrasts with the rich decoration of the other style.

The shafted weapons, with the exception of a few business-like halberds of the fifteenth century, are mainly arms of ceremony. Many of them are etched with heraldic arms, i.e., the Hapsburg emperors, Louis II of Bourbon, the Electors of Saxony, the Duke of Bavaria, the Archbishops of Salzburg, and the Liechtenstein princes. Thirteen of these are dated. These weapons of state had a humble origin, for they developed from the primitive polearms which were the tools of the peasantry carried by them when drafted into military service. Of especial interest is an American halbord from Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Such halberds were in common use in the early Colonies.

The swords date from the fifteenth to the eighteenth century. From the plain cross-hilt of the fifteenth century there developed during the sixteenth century a complicated series of guards which protected the hand. The hilts of those swords show various techniques in ornamentation, such as silver inlay, relief chasing, piercing, and engraving. The work of famous bladesmiths of Italy, Spain, and Germany are included, i.e., Thomas de Ayala of Toledo, Pietro Caino of Milan, and Clemens Horn of Solingeno The blades by these able craftsmen are of very fine quality and are often found in swords mounted for princes and great personages. In this exhibition is a blade by Clemens Horn; dated 1612, the decoration of which includes the rest of three plunes, and the motto “Ich Dien” of the Prince of Wales.

Among the suits of' armor is a complete jousting suit which is German dating from 1560. At one side of the front of the helmet is a small door opened between the running of the courses to permit the knight riveted into the suit to breath freely. This suit bears the mark of the armored Anton, Peffonhauser, The suit is the property of William Randolph Hearst. Two complete sets, also in the exhibition, were worn by page boys of the 16th century in their knightly training.

A large collection of pistols arranged according to nationality, England, France, Germany, and Italy each being well represented. There are also noteworthy examples of Dutch ivory stock pistols, and pistols of Austrian, Danish, Polish, Russian Scottish, and Spanish workmanship. Of especial merit are the pistols with pierced and chiseled iron-work in which the Italians were preeminent. A century ago London was the center of the gun trade in England. The work of ten well-known London artisans may be soon here. There are no less than ten signed pairs of pistols by Boutet, artist director of the Imperial Manufactory at Versailles. These pistols are made with that distinction which one expects in objects destined as presentation pieces for the great generals of France.

The collection has been arranged by Stephen V. Grancsay, Curator of Arms and Armor at the Metropolitan Museum. He has also prepared the catalogue of the exhibition.

Among those who have loaned pieces from their private collections for this exhibition are, Edwin M. Berolzheimer, Mrs. Bashford Doan, Miss Harriet M. Doan, G. Diderrich, W. P. Draper, William Randolph Hearst, The John Woodman Higgins Armory, Carl Otto v Kienbusch, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Theodore Offerrnan, George D. Pratt, and Mitchell Samuels.

NOTICE TO CRITICS:
Mr. Grancsay will be at the Museum Thursday the 8th of June for interview on this exhibition.

Brooklyn Museum Archives. Records of the Department of Public Information. Press releases, 1916 - 1930. 04-06_1933, 045-6. View Original 1 . View Original 2