2024 Star Ornament*The Met Store Cheap

Art ornaments inspired by The Met collection.

Each year, The Met presents a new star ornament inspired by a treasure in the Museum’s holdings. The 2024 Star Ornament honors a spectacular German shield in The Met’s Arms and Armor collection. Belonging to a small 16th-century garniture (a suit with modifiable elements) forged for the Elizabethan courtier Sir John Smythe (1534–1607), the original shield is stamped with a mark consisting of the letter “A” within a pearled circle on the interior. The exterior is wonderfully etched and gilded, with cartouches featuring allegorical figures of Fortune, Justice, and Fortitude.

To learn more about the history of The Met Store’s collectible art ornaments and shop other art-inspired designs, read our blog post here.