Three Partisans Carried by the Bodyguard of Louis XIV (1638–1715, reigned from 1643) 1658 - 1715

These ceremonial partisans, designed by French artist Jean Berain, were used in the processions of Louis XIV, the Sun King, during the 17th century. Their intricate design, with gilded and engraved metal heads and shafts adorned with geometric patterns, highlights the grandeur and ceremony of the French court. The partisans were primarily used for display, representing the power and authority of the monarch. They are now housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, and are examples of the decorative arts of the French Baroque period.