Siege Helmet

Unknown

ca. 1650–1700 · Steel · Arms and Armor

Wearing this extremely thick, heavy helmet could not have been comfortable. The adjustable face defense alone weighs almost four pounds. The shallow dent at the front of the bowl is a proofmark. The form of the bowl is curiously archaic, recalling sallets of the fifteenth century (for example, acc. nos. 04.3.230 and 29.158.3a), whereas the sliding nasal––an Oriental innovation––is reversed, so that the enlarged finial has become the principal face defense (see acc. no. 14.25.601 for a typical sliding nasal). The bowl and face defense are both stamped with the number 21, indicating that the helmet was part of a series.

Artist

Unknown

Date

ca. 1650–1700

Medium

Steel

Culture

French

Department

Arms and Armor

Credit line

Gift of William H. Riggs, 1913