Arms and Armour

It seems a contradiction that humans have devoted some of their greatest artistic skills in decorating objects of death and defence.  The Museum has a wide range of armour and weapons from across multiple cultures, ranging from stone and bronze to steel and iron. An important and rare object is the votive foot armour from Olympia.  More recently, the Museum has acquired a Muslim mail shirt from the Deccan and a full suit of armour for a Cuirassier, from the Rhineland, dated to the 16th century.