The Philadelphia Museum of Art celebrates the acquisition of an outstanding masterpiece of early Renaissance armor: an exceedingly rare, fine, and complete horse armor and man armor, made in 1507 and about 1505 by the celebrated German armorers Wilhelm von Worms the Elder and Matthes Deutsch, respectively. This spectacular addition to the Museum’s distinguished Kretzschmar von Kienbusch Collection—a large and celebrated collection of arms and armor intended for kings, princes, noblemen, and their armed retainers—dramatically expands the Museum's acclaimed ability to delight and educate visitors of all ages and backgrounds. The horse armor, originally made for Duke Ulrich of Württemberg, is the earliest complete example outside of Europe and one of only a handful in the world that dates from this early period. The ornamentation of its plates with impressive etched and gilded figures of women and a dragon is unique.

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The Museum is deeply grateful to Athena and Nicholas Karabots and The Karabots Foundation for their gift to acquire these works, which will transform the Museum’s renowned holdings of European arms and armor.

Curator

Pierre Terjanian • The J.J. Medveckis Associate Curator of Arms and Armor

Location

Gallery 247, second floor