This shaffron matches one of the best-preserved French armors dating from the reign of Henry IV (1589–1610). It demonstrates the French preference for completely gilt armors. A saddle, now in the Musée de l'Armée, Paris, also matches the armor.
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Artwork Details
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Title:Shaffron (Horse's Head Defense)
Date:ca. 1600
Culture:French
Medium:Steel, gold, textile
Dimensions:H. 22 in. (55.9 cm); Wt. 2 lb. 14 oz. (1304.1)
Classification:Equestrian Equipment-Shaffrons
Credit Line:Rogers Fund, 1927
Object Number:27.177.2
Zeughaus, Gießen, Hesse, Germany (by 1636–1811; transferred to the Darmstadt residence of Grand Duke Ludwig I); Ludwig I, Grand Duke of Hessen and bei Rhein, Darmstadt (1811–1820; transferred with the Grand Ducal collection to the Hessisches Landesmuseum); Hessisches Landesmuseum, Darmstadt (1820–1927; sold to Müller Hickler); [Major Hans Müller Hickler, Darmstadt, 1927; sold to MMA].
Seattle, Wash. Seattle Art Museum. "The Art of Chivalry: European Arms and Armor from The Metropolitan Museum of Art," March 11, 1982–June 6, 1982, no. 28.
Denver, Colo. Denver Art Museum. "The Art of Chivalry: European Arms and Armor from The Metropolitan Museum of Art," July 18–October 10, 1982, no. 28.
San Antonio, Tex. Witte Museum of the San Antonio Museum Association. "The Art of Chivalry: European Arms and Armor from The Metropolitan Museum of Art," November 13, 1982–February 5, 1983, no. 28.
Minneapolis, Minn. Minneapolis Institute of Arts. "The Art of Chivalry: European Arms and Armor from The Metropolitan Museum of Art," May 24–July 31, 1983, no. 28.
San Francisco. Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco. "The Art of Chivalry: European Arms and Armor from The Metropolitan Museum of Art," November 5, 1983–January 28, 1984, no. 28.
Detroit, Mich. Detroit Institute of Arts. "The Art of Chivalry: European Arms and Armor from The Metropolitan Museum of Art," April 4–June 17, 1984, no. 28.
Müller, Bernhard. "Die Rüstung Philipps des Grossmütigen." In Philipp Der Grossmütige: Beiträge Zur Geschichte Seines Lebens Und Seiner Zeit. Marburg: N.G. Elwert, 1904. pp. 155–60.
Müller-Hickler, Hans. Führer durch die Kunst– und Historischen Sammlungen: Waffensaal. Darmstadt: Hessisches Landesmuseum, 1923. p. 5.
Dean, Bashford. "Recent Accessions in the Armor Department." The Metropolitan Museum of Art Bulletin (January 1928), pp. 18–23.
Stöcklein, H. "Neuerwerbungen des Metropolitan Museums." Pantheon (1928), pp. 269, 274, ill.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Helmut Nickel, Stuart W. Pyhrr, Leonid Tarassuk, and American Federation of Arts. The Art of Chivalry: European Arms and Armor from the Metropolitan Museum of Art: An Exhibition. New York: The Federation, 1982. pp. 69–73, no. 28, ill.
Nickel, Helmut. "Arms and Armor from the Permanent Collection." The Metropolitan Museum of Art Bulletin (Summer 1991), pp. 30.
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