Close Helmet from a Garniture Made for a Member of the d'Avalos Family

Unknown

ca. 1560–70 · Steel, gold · Arms and Armor

This helmet was originally part of a complete field armor made for a member of the d’Avalos family, probably Ferrante Francesco d’Avalos (1531–1571), marquis of Vasto, who served the king of Spain as governor of Milan (1560–63), viceroy of Sicily (1568–71), and commander-in-chief of Spanish forces in northern Italy. The only other surviving parts of the armor, in addition to the helmet, are a shoulder and arm defense in the Bavarian National Museum, Munich. The distinctive and finely executed decoration ranks among the best examples of Augsburg armor ornament from this period.

Artist

Unknown

Date

ca. 1560–70

Medium

Steel, gold

Culture

German, Augsburg

Department

Arms and Armor

Credit line

Bashford Dean Memorial Collection, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Alexander McMillan Welch, 1929