Islamic Arms and Armor in The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Kubur · 18th January 2016, 05:31 PM

OMG
Should I kill someone to get it or can i just buy it?

ariel · 18th January 2016, 06:00 PM

Yes, first you should kill somebody, and only then you might be allowed to use your VISA.

That's the rule.

Kubur · 26th January 2016, 02:05 PM

I got it, one of the best book ever!
It's sad that most of the weapons presented are pre-19th c.
Nevertheless some members will have to change their minds about Arabian jambiya...

Kubur

estcrh · 26th January 2016, 11:32 PM

I hope the descriptions used in the book have been checked by someone who knows armor and weapons, there are many mistakes in the Mets online collection descriptions. Here is one example, this char-aina is listed as being Indian, to me it has all the characteristics of a Persian char-aina, another obviously Persian char-aina that was listed as being Indian for many years just recently had its description corrected to Persian. The dagger below is described as being a khanjar (Dagger (Khanjar) Date: 18th–19th century) but it looks like a type of jambiya to me.

Many weapons do not mention wootz steel being used. Several mail shirts are listed as being "Ottoman" but their construction looks nothing like any Ottoman mail examples that I have seen, I think the Met may be relying on some very old descriptions which need to be updated, since I have not seen the book yet I do not know if they have in fact done this already.

Cuirass (Char-aina)
Date: late 18th–19th century
Culture: Indian
Medium: Steel, gold, textile.

Jens Nordlunde · 29th January 2016, 03:55 PM

I just got my copy, having skimmed it, read here and there, and I can recommend it as a very interesting book, showing, if I remember correctly, 176 different weapons with texts explaining about the different weapon types.

CharlesS · 29th January 2016, 09:46 PM

Just got mine too...impressive at first glance, but haven't had a chance to really peruse it yet.

mariusgmioc · 2nd February 2016, 01:00 PM

I just got my copy today and I can say it is a monumental work illustrating some magnificent and unique weapons. However, it definitely is quite far from a reference book as it avoids using specific technical terms and sometimes even uses them erroneously. For example, all curved blade swords are called "saber" whether it is a Persian Shamshir (page 182), an Ottoman Kilij (page 161) or an Indian Tuwar (page 184). It goes as far as calling "dagger" an archetipal single edged Persian Kard (page 222). It also uses the generic and rather inaccurate term "crucible steel" for describing Wootz.
Overall, the book certainly looks beautiful but it sounds like being written by the museum's photographer, and not by a reputed authority in the field.

26th January 2016, 11:32 PM	#4
estcrh Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: USA Posts: 1,492	I hope the descriptions used in the book have been checked by someone who knows armor and weapons, there are many mistakes in the Mets online collection descriptions. Here is one example, this char-aina is listed as being Indian, to me it has all the characteristics of a Persian char-aina, another obviously Persian char-aina that was listed as being Indian for many years just recently had its description corrected to Persian. The dagger below is described as being a khanjar (Dagger (Khanjar) Date: 18th–19th century) but it looks like a type of jambiya to me. Many weapons do not mention wootz steel being used. Several mail shirts are listed as being "Ottoman" but their construction looks nothing like any Ottoman mail examples that I have seen, I think the Met may be relying on some very old descriptions which need to be updated, since I have not seen the book yet I do not know if they have in fact done this already. Cuirass (Char-aina) Date: late 18th–19th century Culture: Indian Medium: Steel, gold, textile. Attached Images Last edited by estcrh; 27th January 2016 at 02:30 AM.

2nd February 2016, 01:00 PM	#7
mariusgmioc Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Austria Posts: 1,906	first critic I just got my copy today and I can say it is a monumental work illustrating some magnificent and unique weapons. However, it definitely is quite far from a reference book as it avoids using specific technical terms and sometimes even uses them erroneously. For example, all curved blade swords are called "saber" whether it is a Persian Shamshir (page 182), an Ottoman Kilij (page 161) or an Indian Tuwar (page 184). It goes as far as calling "dagger" an archetipal single edged Persian Kard (page 222). It also uses the generic and rather inaccurate term "crucible steel" for describing Wootz. Overall, the book certainly looks beautiful but it sounds like being written by the museum's photographer, and not by a reputed authority in the field. Last edited by mariusgmioc; 2nd February 2016 at 02:24 PM.

18th January 2016, 05:31 PM	#1
Kubur Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 2,145	OMG Should I kill someone to get it or can i just buy it?

18th January 2016, 06:00 PM	#2
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	Yes, first you should kill somebody, and only then you might be allowed to use your VISA. That's the rule.

26th January 2016, 02:05 PM	#3
Kubur Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 2,145	I got it, one of the best book ever! It's sad that most of the weapons presented are pre-19th c. Nevertheless some members will have to change their minds about Arabian jambiya... Kubur

29th January 2016, 03:55 PM	#5
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,718	I just got my copy, having skimmed it, read here and there, and I can recommend it as a very interesting book, showing, if I remember correctly, 176 different weapons with texts explaining about the different weapon types.

29th January 2016, 09:46 PM	#6
CharlesS Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 1,854	Just got mine too...impressive at first glance, but haven't had a chance to really peruse it yet.