Stechhelm (jousting helmet)
Culture
Southern German
, Nuremberg
Datelate 1400s
MediumSteel, iron and brass
Dimensions46 × 31 × 40 cm (18 1/8 × 12 3/16 × 15 3/4 in.), 18 lb 8 oz (weight)
ClassificationsArms and Armor
MarkingsOn the edges, all three plates have an assembly- or serial mark of three nicks. Additionally, all have a single plain chevron within. On the outer face of the frontplate, below the central bolt hole is a single, crossed chevron.
Credit LineThe John Woodman Higgins Armory Collection
Object number2014.1164.1
DescriptionThis is formed from three heavy steel plates: a skull plate, front- and backplate—all secured with iron domed rivets with soldered brass caps. The skull-plate draws up into a low, broad medial keel which is fitted at mid-length with a threaded crest-insert. Forward of this and at either side of the skull-plate is a longitudinal set of holes for the arming-cap laces. These holes lack the brass rosette inserts once fitted. The skull-plate is roundedly drawn up from its beveled and cusped rear edge, and gracefully tapers forward. The keel becomes a sharp medial ridge, extending to the anterior edge which is the upper limit of the long, deep, “V”-shaped sight. The upper edge of the frontplate is boxed at the sight and inwardly turned. Its side faces are deeply concave, with a sharp medial ridge that extends from the sight to gradually fade out on the basal half. This is pierced along the edge with three large, plain holes (one considerably larger) and a fourth, smaller hole above and to the left. The base edge is unturned, but slightly beveled, dipping to a truncated mid-cusp. The side basal edges of front and rear plates are cut straight across the shoulder and are notched at mid-length for the flange of the breastplate shoulder-straps and below which are two pair of arming point holes without inserts.
On its upper half the rearplate is embossed with a well-formed, radiating pattern of shallow flutes, vertically divided by the posterior terminal of the keel and medial ridge. The latter terminates at the shoulders. To either side of the ridge is an incised and punched hearts-and-diamonds motif in a roseate pattern. Encircling the rear of the helm at the base of the ridge is a row of brass-capped rivets with iron washers, within three incised lines. This decoration once extended onto the front plate, but is now worn away. Just below, and to the left of center is an empty hole which once secured the buckle for the Stechtartsche strap. The rearplate dips off steeply below the point, and is finished with a beveled, cusped edge. At mid-length along this edge is fitted a hinged, adjustable turnbuckle in an octagonal-sectioned slide. The base of this is cut in a floral design, and opposed with an “L”-shaped lug which engages a slot on the backplate.
The frontplate is secured to the breastplate by three floral-headed bolts, slotted for a spanner (two of the bolts match), passing though the top of holes noted above.
ProvenanceCounts Erbach-Erbach (Erbach in Odenwald) E. Kahlert und Sohn (Berlin) Clarence H. Mackay (Roslyn, L.I) Purchased by the Armory from Jacques Seligmann & Co., Inc. (NYC), agents for the Mackay estate, on 1 April 1940, as #A-43/120. Collection transfer from Higgins Armory, January 2014.
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