Historical Armor Collection

A selection of various historical helmets including barbutes, close helmets, and armets from the 15th and 16th centuries, showcasing intricate designs and metalwork.

Coppergate Helmet- saxon Helmet. 750-775 AD ENGLAND.

Barbute with Hinged Nasal ca. 1450 Italian, probably Milan Barbutes with hinged nasals are recorded in Italian paintings and miniatures, but only two helmets with surviving nasals are known, both from Chalcis.. Barbute with Hinged Nasal 23235

Close Helmet Made 1500-1530 Southern Germany. Steel .

Armet ca. 1510-15 German White retaining earlier armet construction, with hinged cheekpieces closing in front of the chin, this helmet also exhibits features current in the early sixteenth century: fluted surfaces, the lower edge of the helmet embossed so as to turn on the rim of the gorget, and a small "sparrow's-beak" visor. A Moor's head stamped on the right side of the visor may be a mark of ownership, perhaps referring to the partician Tucher family of Nuremberg, rather than the personal mark of the armorer. (The right cheeckpiece is a restoration.). Armet. German. ca. 1510-15. Steel. Helmets

Closed vizier helmet from rider harnas. Closed vizier helmet with two star-shaped air openings at the front; decorations with copper rosettes; Vederbos holder is engraved at the rear. Note: Part of Inv. Nr. Ng-NM-528.

Close Helmet of Claude Gouffier (1501-1570). Culture: French. Dimensions: H. 15 3/4 in. (40 cm); W. 8 1/4 in. (21 cm); D. 14 1/2 in. (36.8 cm); Wt. 6 lb. 5 oz. (2863 g). Date: ca. 1555-60.This is an excellent example of a French heavy cavalry helmet of the mid-sixteenth century. Its elaborate decoration includes the monogram of Claude Gouffier (1501-1570), Master of the Horse (Grand Écuyer) for Henry II and Charles IX. This monogram is also on a knee piece from the armor of Gouffier's in the Metropolitan Museum's collection (acc. no. 1994.390). Museum: Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA.

Armet ca. 1490, with later additions Italian, Milan The medieval English custom of hanging a helmet over a tomb as part of the deceased's funerary "achievement" continued well into the seventeeth century. Thanks to this practice, numerous early helmets have been preserved. Like many "church helmets," this example is composite, being made up of old, reused parts assembled somewhat haphazardly for mortuary use. The bowl, which originally was fitted with a brow reinforce, and the cheekpieces are Italian. The right side of the bowl at the back bears faint traces of three Milanese armorers' marks: a crown surmounting letters and, struck twice below, a split-legged cross enclosing two letters. (The visor and upper bevor are adapted from other helmets and the rondel is modern.). Armet 26454

Close Helmet with Falling Buffe ca. 1590-95 Attributed to Pompeo della Cesa Italian. Close Helmet with Falling Buffe. Italian, Milan. ca. 1590-95. Steel, gold. Milan. Helmets

Coppergate Helmet- saxon Helmet. 750-775 AD ENGLAND.

Breastplate. South German, Nuremberg; Mark breastplate: City of Nuremberg mark; Armorer's mark; Mark fauld: Vienna Arsenal mark. Date: 1560-1570. Dimensions: Wt. 6 lb. 11 oz. Steel and leather. Origin: Nuremberg. Museum: The Chicago Art Institute, Chicago, USA.

Helmet with Cheek pieces. 750-775 AD. The Coppergate Helmet. York.

Iron helmet of the medieval knight. Very heavy headdress.

Persian szyszak

Armet ca. 1500-1510 British or Flemish This helmet is one of the most complete and best-preserved examples of a distinctly English or Flemish armet.. Armet 22901

Armour Armour of the medieval knight. Metal protection of the soldier against the weapon of the opponent Copyright: xZoonar.com/ValeryxxSibrikovx 2416564

Bronze helmet of Corinthian type early 6th century B.C. Greek The helmet represents a characteristic form of the late seventh and early sixth century B.C. Unusual, however, is the interior, because it shows three sections that have been joined together--the calotte, the lower wall, and the nose-piece. The projections along the edges are the remains of rivets that would have secured an added material such as bone or ivory.. Bronze helmet of Corinthian type. Greek. early 6th century B.C.. Bronze. Archaic. Bronzes

Closed Burgonet. Armorer: Attributed to Kolman Helmschmid (German, Augsburg 1471-1532). Culture: German, Augsburg. Dimensions: H. 14 5/8 in. (37.1 cm); W. 9 in. (22.9 cm); D. 12 7/8 in. (32.7 cm); Wt. 6 lb. 10 oz. (3004 g). Date: ca. 1525-30.This helmet combines features common to burgonets, notably the projecting peak and falling buffe, with close-helmet construction, in which all elements of the face defense pivot together at the sides of the bowl. Closed burgonets in the fluted style are particularly rare. This finely made example is etched in the manner of Daniel Hopfer (1471-1536) of Augsburg and may have been made by Kolman Helmschmid, the leading armorer of his generation, with whom Hopfer seems to have been associated. Museum: Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA.

Defense for the Lower Left Forearm (Vambrace) ca. 1400-1425 Italian This piece is notable for the early presence of stop-ribs, the two curved struts riveted to the outer and inner plates. These were designed to stop the point of a weapon from sliding into a vulnerable joint or gap between the plates.. Defense for the Lower Left Forearm (Vambrace). Italian. ca. 1400-1425. Steel. Armor Parts

Iron helmet of the medieval knight. Very heavy headdress

Comb Morion ca. 1560-65 German, Brunswick This helmet is an outstanding example of parade armor made in northern Germany for the court of Duke Heinrich the Younger of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel (r. 1514-68) and his son Julius (r. 1568-89). Characteristic of the Brunswick school is the prominent and finely etched figural decoration, with historical, mythological, and biblical subjects.The etching on this morion is exceptionally accomplished and includes (on the raised comb) portrait medallions of Alexander the Great and Antonia Sabina Augusta, wife of the Roman emperor Hadrian. The classical subjects, complex design, and horror vacui typify the northern Mannerist aesthetic. The decoration on the left side includes a shield emblazoned with three small shieldsthe emblem of the guild of Saint Luke, the painter's guild to which many etchers belonged. The quality and originality of the etching suggest that this helmet may have been the artist's "masterpiece," submitted to the guild by the etche

Gauntlet for the Right Hand. Culture: Italian. Dimensions: L. 9 1/4 in. (23.5 cm); W. 5 in. (12.7 cm); D. 5 1/4 in. (13.3 cm); Wt. 1 lb. 0.9 oz. (479.1 g). Date: ca. 1440-50. Museum: Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA.

Proper Right Arm (Vambrace, Rerebrace and Couter), c. 1560-80. South Germany, 16th century. Steel, leather straps, brass rivets; overall: 44.2 cm (17 3/8 in.). This armor was developed for the joust--a sporting combat between two mounted contestants. Although all of the elements of this armor date from the same period, they are not all from the same suit. This armor is thus called "composed." It also shows the asymmetry of jousting armor. The participants rode along a wall-like barrier known as a "tilt" with their left sides facing one another. Consequently, armor on that side of the body had to be thicker. Note the large plate (grandguard) over the left shoulder for extra protection. Also, the breathing holes in the helmet were placed on the right side (farthest from an opponent's lance) to avoid injuries from splinters. The bracket attached to the right breastplate is called the lance-rest, a shock-absorbing support designed to accommodate the lance when "couched" under the right ar

Morion. Northern Italian. Date: 1570-1590. Dimensions: H. 22.9 cm (9 in.) Wt. 2 lb. 14 oz. Steel, brass, and leather. Origin: Northern Italy. Museum: The Chicago Art Institute, Chicago, USA.

Peytral and Lower Neck Defense of a Horse Armor. Southern German. Date: 1525-1575. Dimensions: . Steel. Origin: Augsburg. Museum: The Chicago Art Institute, Chicago, USA.

engole helmet, 16th century, Álava Armory Museum, Vitoria, Basque Country, Spain

Sallet ca. 1470-80 Attributed to Hans Blarer the Younger German During the fifteenth century, the city of Basel, which became part of the Swiss Confederation in 1501, was a thriving center for armor making. Despite this fact, almost no armor from Basel can be identified today.The maker's mark on this helmet allows it to be recognized as the only known surviving helmet made by an armorer of Basel. It also demonstrates that armor from Basel could be of comparable quality to that from such well-known centers as Innsbruck, Augsburg, and Nuremberg, examples of which are also displayed in gallery 373.. Sallet. German, Basel. ca. 1470-80. Steel. Basel. Helmets

Ritter Armour of the medieval knight. Metal protection of the soldier against the weapon of the opponent Copyright: xZoonar.com/ValeryxxSibrikovx 3126703

Cabasset ca. 1550-75 Italian This cabasset is part of an unusually large armor garniture (acc. no. 27.159.1) from the armory of the Dos Aguas family in Valencia, Spain. The garniture contains pieces for use in battle and for the tilt in both the Italian and German fashions. The tilt was a tournament fought on horseback between two opponents armed with lances and separated by a lengthwise barrier.The armor as mounted is equipped with a helmet and vambraces (arm defenses) for the tournament. The buffe (chin defense), second breastplate (27.159.2), and manifer (reinforced left gauntlet) (27.159.6) would have been added to make the armor ready for exchange pieces for different forms of the tournament. For the German tilt, the trellised targe (shield) (27.159.7), small elbow defense (27.159.5), and small stomach defense (27.159.3) were added. For the Italian tilt, these elements were replaced by the form-fitting reinforce covering the left half of the torso and left shoulder (mezzo sovrapet

Helmet (Hachi). Culture: Japanese. Dimensions: 10 in. (25.4 cm) x 12 in. (30.5 cm).. Date: early 19th century. Museum: Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA.

Amure Avec Poulaines Armor Antiques Musee de L'Armee, Paris, France

Infantry Armor. German, possibly Cologne. Date: 1500-1525. Dimensions: H. 137.2 cm (54 in.). Steel and leather. Origin: Cologne. Museum: The Chicago Art Institute, Chicago, USA.

Sallet and Buffe for a Rennzeug in the Saxon Fashion ca. 1570-1600 German The long-tailed German sallet was out of fashion as a field helmet by the early sixteenth century, but it continued to be used thereafter for the Scharfrennen, a joust fought between two contestants with sharp (rather than blunted) lances in an open field. Specially designed armors for this contest, known as Rennzeuge, included sallets bolted at the front to a buffe--a large rigid defense covering the lower face and neck--which in turn was bolted to the breastplate so that the head and upper body remained immobile. This sallet and buffe belong to a distinctive series of Rennzeuge made for use in the Saxon court at Dresden. Although unmarked, they are thought to have been made by the court armorers at Annaberg, in the Saxon territories. Two complete harnesses of this type are in the Metropolitan Museum's collection (acc. nos. 29.92.3, .4).. Sallet and Buffe for a Rennzeug in the Saxon Fashion 26519

Backplate ca. 1475 German. Backplate. German. ca. 1475. Steel. Armor Parts-Backplates

Morion-Cabasset. Culture: Italian. Dimensions: H. 10 3/8 in. (26.4 cm); W. 9 1/2 in. (24.1 cm); D. 13 1/2 in. (34.3 cm); Wt. 3 lb. 3 oz. (1446 g). Date: ca. 1570. Museum: Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA.

Portions of an Armor for Vincenzo Luigi di Capua (d. 1627). Armorer: Pompeo della Cesa (Italian, Milan, ca. 1537-1610). Culture: Italian, Milan. Dimensions: H. as mounted 19 in. (48 cm). Date: ca. 1595.These elements form part of a light-cavalry or infantry armor made for the Neapolitan nobleman Vincenzo Luigi di Capua (d. 1627), count of Altavilla and prince of Riccia. The breastplate bears his personal impresa (emblem), a sunburst above the motto Nulla Quies Alibi (No Repose But Here).Pompeo della Cesa, whose etched signature "Pompeo" is found near the top of the breastplate in the center, was the foremost Milanese armorer of the late sixteenth century. His patrons included Philip II of Spain, who also ruled as duke of Milan; Alessandro Farnese, duke of Parma; and Emanuele Filiberto, duke of Savoy. Pompeo probably headed a large workshop and also acted as a contractor in cooperation with other shops to fill particularly large commissions. The decoration includes bands of trophies alt

Galea. The roman soldier's helmet. Centurion. Roman Hispania. Replica. National Archaeological Museum, Madrid. Spain.

Helmet (Kulah Khud). Culture: Persian. Dimensions: H. including mail 21 1/2 in. (54.6 cm); H. including nasal 10 in. (25.4 cm); H. excluding mail and nasal 6 in. (15.2 cm); Diam. 7 1/2 in. (19.1 cm); Wt. 3 lbs. 4.4 oz. (1485.5 g). Date: 18th century. Museum: Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA.

Mummy of a two year old boy from Fayum; Egypt 100 AD Roman period

Morion ca. 1600 German, Nuremberg The electors of Saxony appear to have been the only German princes in the sixteenth century to outfit their bodyguards with matching equipment. Silvered morions of this type were probably worn by the officers of the bodyguards of the prince-electors of Saxony.. Morion 27158

Armor for Heavy Calvary (Cuirassier). Italian; Milan. Date: 1605-1615. Dimensions: H. 127 cm (50 in.). Steel and leather. Origin: Milan. Museum: The Chicago Art Institute, Chicago, USA.

Morion. Culture: Italian. Dimensions: H. 11 13/16 in. (30 cm); H. of comb 3 3/8 in. (8.6 cm); W. 10 1/16 in. (25.6 cm); D. 14 1/2 in. (36.8 cm); Wt. 3 lb. 2 oz. (1417 g). Date: ca. 1575. Museum: Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA.

Corinthian Helmet, 500-475 BC. Greece. Bronze with silver inlay; overall: 21.5 cm (8 7/16 in.).

Negroli Helmet in the Form of a Dolphin Mask Helmet (burgonet) in the Form of a Dolphin Mask

England, Kent, Hever, Hever Castle, Exhibit of French 16th century Style Suit of Armour

Close-up of the magnificent, lavishly decorated armour (cuirass and cuisses) of Philip II, first King of Spain from 1556 to 1598. Madrid (Spain), 1966.

Burgonet in Oriental Fashion (Zischägge) ca. 1560 German, probably Nuremberg Despite the persistent threat of Turkish invasion in the sixteenth century, the courts in eastern and Central Europe were attracted to the exotic and colorful costumes and military equipment of their Ottoman enemies. Tournaments and parades in Turkish, or related Hungarian, fashion were held at the Hapsburg courts in Vienna and Prague by the mid-sixteenth century. This helmet provides evidence of that taste, as its fluted conical bowl, peak with sliding nasal (missing), large shaped cheekpieces (missing), and articulated neck plates (several missing) were copied directly from contemporary Turkish models. The surfaces are etched and gilt overall with decoration based on "Moresque" ornament of Oriental inspiration. A similar burgonet dated 1561, coming from the armory of the Prices Radziwill, is in Wawel Castle, Cracow.. Burgonet in Oriental Fashion (Zischägge). German, probably Nuremberg. ca. 1560. Steel, gold,

Zischägge (Helmet) Made 1620-1640 Germany. Steel, brass, gilding, and textile .

17th-century helmet said to have belonged to Oliver Cromwell. from the book The British Army. 1868. Historical. digitally restored reproduction from a 19th-century original

Armor. Turkey, 15th-16th century. Arms and Armor; armor. Steel, forged

Militaria, Italy, 19th century. Leather and gilded metal helmet worn by the Piedmont dragoons, 1814.

Armor for the Joust. Italian. Date: 1540-1570. Dimensions: H. 182.9 cm (72 in.). Steel. Origin: Italy. Museum: The Chicago Art Institute, Chicago, USA.

Pair of Fingered Gauntlets Made 1510-1530 Flanders. Steel and leather .

Arms Museum, Castle of San Giusto, medieval castle and fortress, 15th-16th century, Colle di San Giusto, Trieste, harbour town on the Adriatic, Friuli, Italy, Trieste, Friuli, Italy, Europe

Armour of Piet Heyn, c. 1600 - in or before 1629 The harness, consisting of a breastplate, back plate, two thigh pieces, a ring collar and a lost helmet, is in all probability the harness that on July 4, 1629 at the funeral of Piet Hein in the Oude Kerk in Delft in a weapon cabinet above his grave was placed. Netherlands iron (metal) Old church

Helmet from Sutton Hoo. Anglo-Saxon. 7th cent. AD. England.

Helmet 16th century Turkish. Helmet 32064

Tuscany, Italy. Detail of an original Medieval armour

Cuirassier Armor ca. 1610-30 Italian, Milan or Brescia The construction and build of this armor are typical of a cuirassiers harness, a type developed toward the end of the sixteenth century in response to the growing use and efficiency of firearms. The advent of firearms caused armorers to increase the thickness and weight of plates and to supplement them with separate reinforcing plates. Before an armor of this type was finished, it was fired at with a pistol or musket to test its effectiveness against bullets, and the bullet dents were left as a guarantee of the strength and quality of its steel. This particular armor retains two reinforces with such dents, a rarely encountered plate for the back of the helmet bowl, and a plackard for the breastplate; it formerly possessed a third plate for the front of the visor. Weighing more than eighty-six pounds, it is one of the heaviest field armors known.Although generally conforming to the construction of cuirassier harnesses worn througho

Horse Armour. One of only three complete horse armours, this is one of the best preserved. Made from carbon steel, copper alloy and leather.

Lviv Herbal Guard cap unknown

Half-Armor (Composed) dated 1562 (helmet ca. 1560) German. Half-Armor (Composed). German. dated 1562 (helmet ca. 1560). Steel, leather, copper alloy. Armor for Man-1/2 Armor

Sutton Hoo Helmet, Anglosaxon, circa 600 AD, British Museum, London, England, UK

Burgonet. Culture: Italian. Dimensions: H. 12 1/2 in. (31.8 cm); W. 7 9/16 in. (19.2 cm); D. 11 1/2 in. (29.2 cm); Wt. 3 lb. 11 oz. (1673 g). Date: mid-16th century. Museum: Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA.

Interior view, Helmet, Odawara Castle, Odawara, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan

Elements of a Half Armor 16th century and later German, Nuremberg. Elements of a Half Armor. German, Nuremberg. 16th century and later. Steel. Nuremberg. Armor for Man-1/2 Armor

France, Besancon, Iron, copper and silver helm found in the amphitheatre of Besancon

Helmet. Culture: Arabian. Dimensions: H. 6 7/8 in. (17.5 cm); Diam. 8 1/4 in. (21 cm); Wt. 15.6 oz. (442.3 g). Date: ca. 1734. Museum: Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA.

CASCO GRIEGO DEL SIGLO VII-VISTA LATERAL. Location: MUSEO DE CADIZ-ARQUEOLOGIA. Cadiz. SPANIEN.

Morion for the Bodyguard of the Prince-Elector of Saxony ca. 1570 German, Nuremberg The electors of Saxony appear to have been the only German princes in the sixteenth century to outfit their bodyguards with matching equipment. The guards' helmets are etched and gilt on one side with the coat of arms of the dukedom of Saxony and on the other side with the crossed swords that signify the duke's office as archmarshal of the Holy Roman Empire. Originally, the gilt decoration was contrasted with black painted surfaces (some now polished bright). The black and gold derived from the Saxon coat of arms and were also the colors of the guards' uniforms. This helmet and a similar one also in the Metropolitan Museum's collection (acc. no. 14.25.633) were made by armorers in Nuremberg.. Morion for the Bodyguard of the Prince-Elector of Saxony 22238

Right Gauntlet, c.1550-1570. Germany, 16th century. Iron, steel, leather and brass rivets; overall: 34.5 x 20 x 31.2 cm (13 9/16 x 7 7/8 x 12 5/16 in.).

Ritter Armour of the medieval knight. Metal protection of the soldier against the weapon of the opponent Copyright: xZoonar.com/ValeryxxSibrikovx 3115143

Elements of a Horse Armor 16th century German. Elements of a Horse Armor 34873

Shaffron 1510-1530 Southern Germany. Steel .

Horse Helmet. Iran, 224-651. Tools and Equipment; horse trappings. Bronze

Pair of Greaves (Lower Leg Defenses) ca. 1550 to 1575 Italian This pair of greaves (lower leg defenses) is part of an unusually large armor garniture (acc. no. 27.159.1) from the armory of the Dos Aguas family in Valencia, Spain. The garniture contains pieces for use in battle and for the tilt in both the Italian and German fashions. The tilt was a tournament fought on horseback between two opponents armed with lances and separated by a lengthwise barrier.The armor as mounted is equipped with a helmet and vambraces (arm defenses) for the tournament. The buffe (chin defense), second breastplate (27.159.2), and manifer (reinforced left gauntlet) (27.159.6) would have been added to make the armor ready for exchange pieces for different forms of the tournament. For the German tilt, the trellised targe (shield) (27.159.7), small elbow defense (27.159.5), and small stomach defense (27.159.3) were added. For the Italian tilt, these elements were replaced by the form-fitting reinforce covering

Green Russian Soviet army helmet of times of the second world war isolated on a white background with clipboard. Green Russian Soviet army helmet of times of the second world war isolated on a white background with clipboard. ,model released, Symbolfoto ,property released Copyright: xZoonar.com/SergeyxxKozoderovx 2141095 ,model released, Symbolfoto ,property released

Vintage Copper and brass diving helmet

Armor for Man and Horse with Horse Trappings. Culture: German. Dimensions: Wt. of armor for man 61 lb. 11 oz. (28.05 kg); Wt. of armor for horse 63 lb. 13 oz. (29.00 kg); 29.158.4aa (shaffron); H. 27 in. (68.6 cm); W. 13 in. (33 cm); D. 15 in. (38.1 cm); Wt. 8 lb. 0.6 oz. (3645.7 g). Date: ca. 1515 and later. Museum: Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA.

Portions of a Jousting Half Armor. Culture: German. Dimensions: Wt. 48 lb. 13 oz. (22.14 kg); mail sleeve (29.156.67o): L. 27 5/8 in. (70 cm); W. 13 in. (33 mm.); Diam. (outside) of links 13/32 in. (10.5 mm.); Diam. (inside) of links 5/16 in. (7.9 mm); Diam. (outside) of earlier solid links 7/16 in. (10.7 mm); Diam. (inside) of earlier solid links 1/4 in. (6.5 mm); Diam. (outside) of riveted links 13/32 in. (10.5 mm); Diam. (inside) of riveted links 9/32 in. (7.4 mm); mail sleeve (29.156.67p): L. 22 in. (56 cm); W. 13 in. (33 cm); Diam. (outside) of links 13/32 in. (10.7 mm); Diam. (inside) of links 9/32 in. (7.2 mm).. Date: ca. 1500 and later. Museum: Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA.

Medieval head helmets

Iron helmet Iron helmet of the medieval knight. Very heavy headdress Copyright: xZoonar.com/VALERY-SIBRIKOVx 7138911

Armor for combat. Plate armour for man and horse. Europe. Metropolitan Museum of Art. New York. USA.

Saddle and horse tack owned by Hetman Stefan Czarnecki

Knights armor and weapons. Edinburgh Castle, Scotland.

Marienburg Castle, interior, knight's armour, Pattensen, Lower Saxony, Germany, Europe

Knight's helmet with open visor, 14th century, Fashion history, Costume history, Historical, Digitally restored reproduction of an original 19th century pattern

Hunting equipment

French Polynesia, Cook Islands, Rarotonga. An antique diver's helmet.

Knights and medieval armor in the castle of Fougeres. Brittany region, Ille et Vilaine department, France, Europe

Six helmets leaf, a star, a heraldic lily, a bell and three fruit bunches, monogrammist Ta, 1593 drawing prepared paper. deck paint brush helmet

Gladiator holding sword isolated on white. The gladiator holding sword isolated on white

Shiny steel shields and knives in the view

Artifacts at a museum, Knight's Museum, Valletta, Malta

Old style wooden arrows in the case of an archer

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