Close Helmet in the style of 1570-1580
Culture
German
, perhaps Munich
Datelate 1800s
Mediumetched and blackened steel, brass and leather
Dimensions28.6 × 21.6 × 30.5 cm (11 1/4 × 8 1/2 × 12 in.), 7 lb (weight)
ClassificationsArms and Armor
MarkingsHAM # "2587" in white paint inside (erroneous).
The etched letters "CS" on a bolster beneath right arm of angel above right eye;
Credit LineThe John Woodman Higgins Armory Collection
Object number2014.1100
DescriptionRounded skull of 2 pieces weakly riveted together at front and rear, and brazed along the low, roped comb. The top surface of the skull is pierced on either side with two pair of transverse holes for liner drawstring. Two holes at the posterior base of the comb are for a plume-pipe now lost. Below this, the rear of the skull is encircled by a row of nine brass lining-rivets with leather band beneath the irregularly-octagonal washers within. The base of the helmet is drawn out in a curved, downturned narrow flange to the ends of which is riveted a neck defense of two curved lames overlapping upward. These deepen slightly from the straight ends toward mid-length. The basal lame has an inwardly turned roped edge bordered by twelve brass lining-rivets with strap as above. The pair of lames articulate on sliding rivets at the ends and a central leather riveted to each and the flange above. The straight ends of the basal lame have a short stud to lock to the gorget plate. Arching well up over the brow, without turns is the facial opening, bordered with eleven iron lining rivets that are flush on the surface and have flattened circular heads inside. Near the flanges on the right side is a spring-catch for the bevor, working on a vertical strip of metal.
The surface of the skull and nape lames are etched with seven longitudinal bands per side. These are filled with trophied groups, heraldic arms within oval cartouches (the diamond-ring devices may allude to the House of Liechtenstein), and intertwined, frond-like strapwork tendrils, all on a blackened, stippled ground. The bands are guilloche-framed and also by narrow, blackened bands. The etched bands are separated by broad, plain ones. Strapwork borders the basal edge of the terminal lame at the neck.
Both sides of the skull are pierced for the petal-cut, domed visor-pivots with threaded shanks and oblong nuts within. These pivots secure the bevor, upper-bevor and visor assembly. The bevor is formed with a pronounced chin having a medial ridge that extends down across the pair of riveted gorget lames below. These are similar to, and overlap the rear pair to which they are secured, but the terminal lame curves down and deepens along its inwardly turned and roped basal edge, to a wide blunt point at center. The facial opening is deep, and curved, extending nearly from the level of the pivots. The side and upper edges curve rearward to short, rounded terminals which are pierced. Encircling the throat below is a row of eleven brass lining rivets with internal leather band. The facial opening is bordered by a row of nine flush iron rivets like those across the brow of the skull. The bevor is secured closed to the skull by the spring-catch on the right. Centered on the right, near the chin is another spring-catch with domed, incised head. This catch acts obliquely to engage a hole in the right lower edge of the upper-bevor. The assembly has strapwork- and cartouche-filled borders, some of which have a candy-stripe edging. A strapwork band also extends down the chin, and to either side are triangular or irregularly-trapezoidal etched panels with strapwork or martial trophies.
The pointed upper-bevor overlaps the bevor, and has a deep, upswept profile reaching near the vertical along the medial ridge. The plain, unturned upper and lower edges sweep to the rear, long rounded terminals. The faces of the defense are pierced with breaths. Those on the left are small, and circular, in a trapezoidal-shaped grouping of three longitudinal rows of five holes each, with a single isolated hole slightly to the rear of the middle row. The right side is also cut in a trapezoidal group, but with two rows of five rectangular, oblique slots each, with a single slot and hole to the rear. Centered near the edge below this group is the hole for the spring-catch of the bevor. Above, the edge is slightly stepped and flanged out for accommodating the visor. The edge is further notched and pierced for the lifting-peg/spring-catch of the visor. The perimeter of the upper-bevor has a candy-stripe edging, with the sides and medial band filled by strapwork and cartouches. The region of the breaths is etched with a mirrored design of putti riding dragon-like creatures with coiled tails, the whole within a triangular, guilloche frame.
The pointed visor is deep over the bevor with its steeply-angled medial ridge and embossing for the anterior end of the comb. The top and bottom edges curve rearward in narrow, rounded terminals. The visor itself is boxed and etched. On the right basal edge here is the spring-catch for the upper-bevor. At its posterior end this has a faceted, tapered shaft with a faceted oblate spheroid terminal, the whole also serving as a lifting-peg. The visor is decoratively divided into two nearly symmetrical halves along the medial line, by the striped bands which also extend around the perimeter of the piece and above the occularia. The spaces are strapwork-filled, and centrally charged with an irregularly-trapezoidal compartment on either side, filled with more strapwork. The compartments are flanked above and below by demi-oval cartouches within which are recumbent figures- nude males on the left, and angels with the sun-in-splendor (See also Distinguishing Marks) on the right.
Helmet is modern, probably Italian fake from 1st quarter of this century. Rounded skull of 2 pieces weakly riveted together at front and rear, and braised along the low, roped comb. The top surface of the skull is pierced on either side with two pair of transverse holes for liner drawstring. Two holes at the posterior base of the comb are for a plume-pipe now lost. Below this, the rear of the skull is encircled by a row of nine brass lining-rivets with leather band beneath the irregularly-octagonal washers within. The base of the helmet is drawn out in a curved, downturned narrow flange to the ends of which is riveted a neck defense of two curved lames overlapping upward. These deepen slightly from the straight ends toward mid-length. The basal lame has an inwardly turned roped edge bordered by twelve brass lining-rivets with strap as above. The pair of lames articulate on sliding rivets at the ends and a central leather riveted to each and the flange above. The straight ends of the basal lame have a short stud to lock to the gorget plate. Arching well up over the brow, without turns is the facial opening, bordered with eleven iron lining rivets that are flush on the surface and have flattened circular heads inside. Near the flanges on the right side is a spring-catch for the bevor, working on a vertical strip of metal. The surface of the skull and nape lames are etched with seven longitudinal bands per side. These are filled with trophied groups, heraldic arms within oval cartouches (the diamond-ring devices may allude to the House of Liechtenstein), and intertwined, frond-like strapwork tendrils, all on a blackened, stippled ground. The bands are guilloche-framed and also by narrow, blackened bands. The etched bands are separated by broad, plain ones. Strapwork borders the basal edge of the terminal lame at the neck. Both sides of the skull are pierced for the petal-cut, domed visor-pivots with threaded shanks and oblong nuts within. These pivots secure the bevor, upper-bevor and visor assembly. The bevor is formed with a pronounced chin having a medial ridge that extends down across the pair of riveted gorget lames below. These are similar to, and overlap the rear pair to which they are secured, but the terminal lame curves down and deepens along its inwardly turned and roped basal edge, to a wide blunt point at center. The facial opening is deep, and curved, extending nearly from the level of the pivots. The side and upper edges curve rearward to short, rounded terminals which are pierced. Encircling the throat below is a row of eleven brass lining rivets with internal leather band. The facial opening is bordered by a row of nine flush iron rivets like those across the brow of the skull. The bevor is secured closed to the skull by the spring-catch on the right. Centered on the right, near the chin is another spring-catch with domed, incised head. This catch acts obliquely to engage a hole in the right lower edge of the upper-bevor. The assembly has strapwork- and cartouche-filled borders, some of which have a candy-stripe edging. A strapwork band also extends down the chin, and to either side are triangular or irregularly-trapezoidal etched panels with strapwork or martial trophies. The pointed upper-bevor overlaps the bevor, and has a deep, upswept profile reaching near the vertical along the medial ridge. The plain, unturned upper and lower edges sweep to the rear, long rounded terminals. The faces of the defense are pierced with breaths. Those on the left are small, and circular, in a trapezoidal-shaped grouping of three longitudinal rows of five holes each, with a single isolated hole slightly to the rear of the middle row. The right side is also cut in a trapezoidal group, but with two rows of five rectangular, oblique slots each, with a single slot and hole to the rear. Centered near the edge below this group is the hole for the spring-catch of the bevor. Above, the edge is slightly stepped and flanged out for accommodating the visor. The edge is further notched and pierced for the lifting-peg/spring-catch of the visor. The perimeter of the upper-bevor has a candy-stripe edging, with the sides and medial band filled by strapwork and cartouches. The region of the breaths is etched with a mirrored design of putti riding dragon-like creatures with coiled tails, the whole within a triangular, guilloche frame. The pointed visor is deep over the bevor with its steeply-angled medial ridge and embossing for the anterior end of the comb. The top and bottom edges curve rearward in narrow, rounded terminals. The visor itself is boxed and etched. On the right basal edge here is the spring-catch for the upper-bevor. At its posterior end this has a faceted, tapered shaft with a faceted oblate spheroid terminal, the whole also serving as a lifting-peg. The visor is decoratively divided into two nearly symmetrical halves along the medial line, by the striped bands which also extend around the perimeter of the piece and above the occularia. The spaces are strapwork-filled, and centrally charged with an irregularly-trapezoidal compartment on either side, filled with more strapwork. The compartments are flanked above and below by demi-oval cartouches within which are recumbent figures- nude males on the left, and angels with the sun-in-splendor (See also Distinguishing Marks) on the right.
The helmet is nearly identical to an etched, gilded example shown in Laking, Reconrd..V: fig. 1544. That product is given as Italian work, ca. 1870. Unlike the Laking piece however, once appears to be completely modern in its parts.
Label TextThis helmet was made with such faithfulness to period technique that it must have been produced to convince potential buyers of its authenticity. The helmet is of German form but has Italian decoration similar to that of other forgeries of the day. The minscule letters “CS” etched below the elbow of the angel on the brow above the right eye slot are possibly those of Carl Schwarzenberg, a Munich maker of the late 19th century.ProvenanceCollection transfer from Higgins Armory, Janaury 2014.
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