The Gods of War: Sacred Imagery and the Decoration of Arms and Armor

The Gods of War: Sacred Imagery and the Decoration of Arms and Armor

LaRocca, Donald J.
1996
47 pages
35 illustrations
8.25 x 11 in
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Donald J. La Rocca

Donald J. La Rocca joined the department in 1988, following six years at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. He has curated the international loan exhibition Warriors of the Himalayas: Rediscovering the Arms and Armor of Tibet (2006), as well as several in-house exhibitions, including The Gods of War: Sacred Imagery and the Decoration of Arms and Armor (1996), The Academy of the Sword: Illustrated Fencing Books 1500­–1800 (1998), Bashford Dean and the Creation of the Arms and Armor Department (2012), and Arms and Armor: Notable Acquisitions 2003–2014 (2014). He is the author of more than thirty-five print essays on arms and armor.

Spearhead, Steel, gold, Indian
Indian
16th century
Coat of Mail and Plate, Steel, silver, copper alloy, Indian
Indian
18th century
Dagger (Katar), Steel, silver, South Indian; blade, European
South Indian; blade, European
17th–18th century
Guarded Dagger (Katar), Steel, Indian, Thanjavur; blade, European
Indian, Thanjavur; blade, European
16th century
Dagger (Katar), Steel, Indian, Thanjavur; blade, European
Indian, Thanjavur; blade, European
17th century
Sacrificial Sword (Rāmdāo), Steel, wood, brass, Indian, Bengal (?) or Nepalese
Indian, Bengal (?) or Nepalese
19th century
Sacrificial Sword (Kartrī or Churī), Steel, brass, wood, Indian, Bengal (?) or Nepalese
Indian, Bengal (?) or Nepalese
19th century
Sacrificial Knife, Steel, brass, wood, Indian, Bengal (?) or Nepalese
Indian, Bengal (?) or Nepalese
19th century
Gauntlet Sword (Pata), Steel, hilt, Indian, Thanjavur; blade, European
hilt, Indian, Thanjavur; blade, European
hilt, 17th–18th century; blade, 18th century
Kris with Sheath, Iron, gold, wood, Malaysian
Malaysian
18th–19th century
Kris with Sheath, the hilt representing Batara Bayu, Steel, wood, gold, semiprecious stones, Balinese
Balinese
19th century
Kris with Sheath, Steel, wood, copper, gold, semiprecious stones, turquoise, pigment, Balinese
Balinese
19th century
Balinese
18th–19th century
Kris, Steel, silver, wood, Balinese
Balinese
18th–19th century
Kris and Sheath, Steel, gold, ivory, wood, Javanese or Sumatran (Banten Sultanate)
Javanese or Sumatran (Banten Sultanate)
16th century
Kris Stand, Wood, Balinese
Balinese
early 20th century
Kris Stand, Wood, Balinese
Balinese
18th–19th century
Tibetan
18th–19th century
Fabric Armor and Helmet with Buddhist and Taoist symbols, Cotton, hemp, copper alloy, iron, Korean
Korean
possibly 18th century
Helmet, Iron, gold, velvet, Chinese
Chinese
15th–16th century
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LaRocca, Donald J. 1996. The Gods of War: Sacred Imagery and the Decoration of Arms and Armor. New York: Metropolitan Museum of Art.