Comb Morion

Unknown

ca. 1580–90 · Steel, brass, leather · Arms and Armor

This morion matches a breastplate in the Deutsches Historisches Museum, Berlin, the deeply pointed waistline of which suggests a date for both pieces about 1580–90. The breastplate copies in steel a civilian doublet of textile, complete with buttons down the center. The decoration of raised bands outlined by rows of punched circles can thus be interpreted as an imitation of the strips of metallic braids applied over the seams of a textile costume. The high comb, deep V-shaped brim, and prominent use of decorative brass washers evoke comparisons with northern German armor of the so-called Brunswick school.

Artist

Unknown

Date

ca. 1580–90

Medium

Steel, brass, leather

Culture

German, possibly Brunswick

Department

Arms and Armor

Credit line

Gift of William H. Riggs, 1913