42 Bashford Dean Memorial Volume 



student of metallurgy he enjoyed a world-wide reputation. The subject that he made his lifelong 

 passion is highly technical; the secrets of the old armorers, the construction of their suits and 

 weapons, beautiful in line, contour, and ornament, vibrant and strong; the characteristics of one 

 master or another in the various centuries — the knowledge of all these can be acquired only through 

 constant and indefatigable study. In such study, Bashford Dean never spared himself. He knew 

 intimately all the great collections in the world. He knew the literature of the subject, its historical 

 and sentimental value. His watchword was 'thoroughness' and his ideals high; in his ambition 

 to make the armor collection of the Metropolitan take its place among the greatest in the world 

 he never flagged. Within the relatively short space of twenty-five years the Department of Arms 

 and Armor at the Metropolitan Museum rose from practical obscurity to a position of first rank. 

 The reason for this remarkable achievement was that the collection in this Museum was brought 

 together by a master armorer. With his scholarship, his taste, his historical knowledge, and his fine, 

 subtle instinct, he had a rare gift of discovery. No journey was too long for him; he roamed the 

 world in search of objects which ultimately found a place in that institution which he loved so wel! 

 and to which he gave the best years of his life — The MetropoHtan Museum of Art. 



As it has been my good fortune to have been closely associated during the past year with the 

 Department of Arms and Armor in this Museum, I have marveled more and more at the stupendous 

 task that Dean had set himself, not only as regards the seeking out and purchasing of objects but the 

 installation of them and the administration of his department, to which he brought that extra- 

 ordinary quality known as enthusiasm which overcame all obstacles. We remember him with ad-' 

 miration and affection; remember him as a great and devoted public servant; and it is because the 

 Trustees hope that the public which he served will so remember him that this memorial has been 

 established. A large part of it was bequeathed to us by Bashford Dean himself; another part was 

 purchased by the Museum; some of the objects were graciously presented by Mrs. Bashford Dean, 

 Miss Harriet M. Dean, Mr. and Mrs. Alexander McMillan Welch, Mrs. Helen Fahnestock 

 Hubbard, Mr. Edward S. Harkness and Mr. and Mrs. Robert W. de Forest; everything in it 

 passed through his hands, bears the impalpable stamp of his approval of its authenticity, its 

 historical interest, its artistic value and craftsmanship, and its usefulness to the student. 

 It is as though Dean spoke to us through his beloved treasures, by which we are sur- 

 rounded today. Those silent figures, reminiscent of bygone ages when knighthood was in 

 flower, live on as symbols of the genius of Bashford Dean. 



Miss Anita Reinhard, Assistant Curator of Arms and Armor, then unveiled the symbolic tablet which 

 is shown on the adjoining plate. On this tablet are found a helmet with a crest, a gauntlet, and a spur. The 

 symbolism of these parts of a knight's armor is as follows : the spur, with which he incites his horse to action, 

 is the symbol of Diligence; the gauntlet is the symbol of Friendship, since in the western world in all ages, 

 striking hands has signaHzed friendship; the helmet is the symbol of Wisdom, since it crowns the head, in 

 which is housed the brain, the seat of knowledge; and lastly the helmet is surmounted by the crest which 

 symbolized Loyalty. It has been well said that one who commands should have insignia by which he might 

 be recognized. This was particularly true in those days when men went forth concealed in armor, and no 

 place could have been more suitable than the top of the helmet. Hence the leader wore a plume, or a crest of 

 some kind, so that his loyal followers might be able to rally around him. 



These were the ideas that guided the sculptor of this tablet, because the qualities symbolized by 

 these insignia and inscribed on this tablet are qualities possessed in a preeminent degree by Bashford Dean. 



