Von Kienbusch Galleries of Arms and Armor
Aside from paintings, the Philadelphia Museum of Art also houses the arms and armor collection bequeathed by the celebrated collector, distinguished connoisseur and scholar Carl Otto Kretzschmar von Kienbusch (1884–1976) to the museum in 1976, the Bicentennial Anniversary of the American Revolution. The city was the host of the Centennial International Exhibition of 1876, and a selection of presentation firearms and ammunition was sent from the exhibition to the Smithsonian Institute, where is still remains.
Check out “”Philadelphia Museum of Art”
House Armor of Duke Ulrich of Wurttemburg (1507), a German duke and supporter of Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I of Austria.
Incidentally, Philadelphia was home to English and German gunsmiths of the 18th and 19th century, as well as the Frankford Arsenal ammunition plant. Whilst Philadelphia took a secondary role in the industrial production of firearms, it did provide the gunsmiths who built the prototype guns.
A display of crossbows
The comprehensive Von Kienbusch holdings of arms and armor, among the finest of their kind in the world and the last great East Coast collection of pre-percussion arms and armor, include European (Germany, France, Spain, Austria, England, Italy, Scotland, etc.) and Southwest Asian (Iran and Turkey) arms and armor spanning several centuries.
European swords
A new baronial hall was built for the complete horse and human armors and armor elements, crossbows, swords, thrusting pikes, staff weapons, edged weapons and related accessories drawn, for the most part, from the princely armories of Europe that brought together figurative and decorative artistry with technically demanding metallurgy and lock work.
A collection of helmets
Additionally, the collection includes rare shooting accoutrements such as princely match lock, wheel lock and flint lock pistols; rifles, and smooth bore muskets, many from Kienbusch’s native Germany.
A complete cuirassier suit of armor (Northern Italian, artist/maker unknown)
A small but epicurean collection of pistols from France, Spain, England, Italy and Scotland, from the sixteenth to eighteenth century, include steel and silver stocked Scottish pistols, a pair of French Napoleonic Empire dueling pistols made by Nicolas-Noel Boutet, a Spanish wheel lock pistol embellished with the finest silver filigree, and an Italian flintlock with a solid ivory stock.
A collection of flintlock muskets
Hunting rifles, once belonging to Emperor Ferdinand III and Emperor Charles VI of Austria, are embellished with gold, ivory and silver, some with allegorical hunting scenes and others.
Etched, partially russeted and gilded steel half armor for use on field (Milan, 1600 CE)
Other highlights include a Hungarian hauberk (shirt) of mail for ceremonial use; armor, made by Pompeo della Cesa (Italian, active Milan, c. 1537 – 1610) for use in the tourney fought on foot over the barriers; a wheel lock gun made by Stephan Klett (German, active Suhl, recorded 1578 – 1612); a ceremonial mace; a lantern shield; a rapier blade made by bladesmith Clemens Meigen (German, active Solingen, late 16th century); a gorget; a staff weapon ( langdebeve or ox tongue spear); powder flasks carved from deer antlers; petite priming powder flasks made of mother-of-pearl inlaid with silver, and a bandolier of seven wooden powder flasks dangling on cord from a velvet shoulder belt.
Von Kienbusch Galleries of Arms and Armor: Gallery 347, 3/F, Kretzschmar , Main Building, Philadelphia Museum of Art: 2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Open daily (except Tuesdays and Wednesdays), 10 AM to 5 PM (8:45 PM on Fridays). Admission: $25 (adults), $23 (seniors,65 years old and over), $14 (students with valid ID0, $12 (member guests) and free for members and youth (18 & under). Tel: +1 215-763-8100 . Website: www.philamuseum.org. Coordinates: 39°57′57″N 75°10′53″W.