Tournament Helm (<i>Kolbenturnierhelm</i>)

Unknown

1450–1500 · Steel, textile, leather, gesso, polychromy · Arms and Armor

This extremely rare helmet was intended for the tournament fought by groups of mounted combatants armed with clubs (Kolben) or blunted swords. The helmet is formed from an iron framework covered by canvas and gesso impressed with a floral design based on textile patterns. Due to the fragile nature of the raised gesso decoration, very few of these helmets survive. At the rear is the coat of arms of the von Stein family, which here appears as three black wolf traps on a white shield.

Artist

Unknown

Date

1450–1500

Medium

Steel, textile, leather, gesso, polychromy

Culture

German

Department

Arms and Armor

Credit line

Gift of Christian A. Zabriskie, 1940