Burgonet

Unknown

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

Richly damascened in gold and silver, this helmet is decorated with five oval vignettes depicting exotic scenes, with Oriental figures on land and ships and oared galleys at sea. The extensive pictorial use of damascening on a smooth, rather than embossed, surface is highly unusual but relates to damascened iron furniture made in Milan in the second half of the sixteenth century. The shape of the burgonet is also noteworthy, the arched comb alluding to ancient Roman helmets. (The left cheekpiece is missing.)

Artist

Unknown

Date

ca. 1560–70

Medium

Steel, gold, silver, textile

Culture

Italian, Milan

Department

Arms and Armor

Credit line

Rogers Fund, 1904