Siege Burgonet of "Totenkopf" form

Culture German

Dateearly 1600s

Mediumiron and black paint with modern leathers

Dimensions28 × 24.5 × 25 cm (11 × 9 5/8 × 9 13/16 in.), 10 lb 6 oz (weight)

ClassificationsArms and Armor

Markings5. in red paint inside (style typical of Hohenwerfen).

Credit LineThe John Woodman Higgins Armory Collection

Terms

Object number2014.1150.1

Description2-piece skull riveted together without comb. Iron plumeholder at rear of skull. Fall/faceplate unit and bevor pivot at the temples. Bevor secures to skull with strap and buckle--this is a modern restoration. Faceplate riveted to fall; pierced with comma-shaped eye openings with bevelled edges. Additional plate riveted to arms of fall at the pivot point, perhaps a reinforce (was not able to examine in hand). Faceplate secures to bevor with sneckhook at right side. Front and rear neckplates are riveted to the bevor and skull respectively.

There is a recessed border on the brim of the fall, and a line on the neckplates imitating the edge of a recessed border. There are single and double incised lines on the fall, faceplate, bevor, and skull. There are inward turned edges on the neckplates and brim.

Impact marks of 2 bullets on back of skull.

There is possible compositing of the unit--the browline edge on the skull is roped, but there is no matching roping around the face opening of the bevor. The execution of the faceplate is also better than that of the visor peak. Nonetheless, the overall execution of the piece is good, and the compositing could be working-life. There appears to be original blueing underneath the paint.
Label TextThe exceptionally heavy weight of this helmet indicates that it was designed for siege operations. As gunpowder weapons became increasingly powerful in the 1500s and 1600s, armor had to be made heavier to resist them. Eventually the weight became too great to be practical for wearing on campaign, and soldiers started doing away with parts of their armor. Since siege operations did not involve long marches, siege armor could be made heavier. This helmet is made to be proof against musket balls—in fact, there are two bullet marks in the rear, proof that it saved the life of its wearer more than once.ProvenanceArchduke Eugen's Armory, Fortress Hohenwerfen, Salzburg, Austria Purchased by John W. Higgins on March 2, 1927 from Anderson Galleries (NY), their no, 420. Given to the Museum on December 15, 1931. Collection transfer from Higgins Armory, January 2014.

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