Il Museo Civico delle Forze Armate 1914-1945 presents the temporary exhibition:

DANGEROUS ELEGANCES
Craft and luxury weapons between the 18th and 20th centuries

When: 30 June 2024 to 20 October 2024
At: Museo delle Forze Armate 1914-1945 | Via del Lavoro 66, Montecchio Maggiore (Vicenza)
Inauguration: 30 June 2024

Visiting hours: Monday-Wednesday-Friday-Sunday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Other days and times by appointment

  • Under the patronage of the Municipality of Montecchio
  • With the collaboration of the M.U.S.T. of Alano Setteville (BL)
  • With the collaboration of the Great War Museum Canove di Roana (VI)
  • Borrowers: Daniela Patella Scola; Oliviero Citton
  • Scientific direction: Glauco Angeletti
  • Exhibition design: Director Stefano Guderzo, Curator Sofia Borghero

Introduction to the exhibition

The desire to appear is a sentiment, in many cases parasitic, that is transversally present in every human action and follows it chronologically from the earliest times to the present day.

A field such as arms production has always followed its stimuli in proportion to the interests and/or tastes of contemporary society.

When we speak of luxury or antique weapons, most people, and also many authors in the sector, think of the great mounts, armour and otherwise, that characterised the production of the 15th and 16th centuries in Italy and Europe, relegating the chronologically preceding ones to the limbo of classical or medieval archaeology and restricting the horizon of study regarding the following centuries to a cultured but still niche craftsmanship.

The aim of this exhibition is to draw attention to this second period; therefore, the 18th century was chosen as the initial time limit, i.e. when the glittering 16th-century armour entered court symbolism, losing all contact with service utility.

And it is precisely in this itinerary, which winds its way up to the present day, that we wanted to follow the artistic aspects, the aspects of personal vanity or class and the need to distinguish oneself that, although present in many other fields, in the weapons sector take on peculiar characteristics, diluting the primary purpose; this is all the more necessary to bring the visitor’s attention back to parameters of judgement that go beyond the love-hate relationship for the forbidden or the total ideological denial in order to delve into parameters that differ from any individual preconceptions.

As in any scientific exhibition, there is no tendency to give automatic or all-embracing answers, but to stimulate curiosity, questions and a desire to study the field, the materials and related ideals.

Materials on display

There are more than three hundred pieces from all over Italy, from the Napoleonic era to the present day, which tell a story not only of art and craftsmanship, but also and above all of social importance, highlighting part of the desire to appear that has always accompanied men and elites in the various eras and that is still handed down today in military uniforms for gala and ceremonial occasions.

A fascinating and unusual exhibition in which weapons no longer represent mere and brutal instruments of offence, but are embellished by flaunting elegance and precision craftsmanship and transforming themselves into elaborate damascened, agemised, plated and engraved works of art that narrate a chronological and geographical phenomenon, from the blades of the Far East to the engravings of the iconic US revolvers.

Decorated objects produced in more than twenty countries all over the world between 1700 and 1900 are on display, from the batons of authority of the Venetian Republic to French and Italian court swords, from hunting, service and military weapons to rare specimens, official and representative gifts, as well as uniforms and armour, paintings and handicraft objects of civilian life.

Also on display are some unique objects such as the State gift received by the then Defence Minister Giovanni Spadolini in the 1980s.

For information and reservations for school groups and groups

340 5978913 – 348 1041417
museoforzearmate@gmail.com
www.museostorico.com