Armor

Kolman Helmschmid

ca. 1525 and later · Steel, leather · Arms and Armor

The helmet, pauldrons (shoulder defenses), and vambraces (arm defenses) of this armor are attributed to Kolman Helmschmid based on comparison with his known works. The helmet’s distinctive snub-nosed visor appears to be a form that he originated and used on three other helmets, all dating from the mid-1520s. The decoration of these elements is typical of the style of Daniel Hopfer of Augsburg (about 1470–1536), a celebrated armor-etcher and printmaker, who is known to have decorated armors made by members of the the Helmschmid family. The remainder of this armor is composed of southern German elements from about 1520 to 1530, except for minor restorations.

Artist

Kolman Helmschmid

Date

ca. 1525 and later

Medium

Steel, leather

Culture

German, Augsburg

Department

Arms and Armor

Credit line

Gorget: Bashford Dean Memorial Collection, Bequest of Bashford Dean, 1928; body armor: Bashford Dean Memorial Collection, Gift of Mrs. Bashford Dean, 1929; helmet: Gift of Alan Rutherfurd Stuyvesant, 1950