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Close Helmet

ca. 1550
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 374
The fantastic appearance of this helmet, with its visor shaped like a griffin's head and the comb of the bowl raised into the form of a serpent's body, indicates that it was part of an elaborate pageant armor.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Close Helmet
  • Date: ca. 1550
  • Geography: Milan or Brescia
  • Culture: Italian, Milan or Brescia
  • Medium: Steel, gold, silver
  • Dimensions: H. 11 3/4 in. (29.9 cm); W. 14 in. (35.6 cm); D. 14 in. (35.6 cm); Wt. 6 lb. 14 oz. (3128 g)
  • Classification: Helmets
  • Credit Line: Fletcher Fund, 1929
  • Object Number: 29.17
  • Curatorial Department: Arms and Armor

More Artwork

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Field Armor of King Henry VIII of England (reigned 1509–47), Steel, gold, textile, leather, Italian, Milan or Brescia

Field Armor of King Henry VIII of England (reigned 1509–47)

Italian, Milan or Brescia
ca. 1544
Helmet (Sallet), Steel, iron, gold, silver, cloisonné enamel, leather, textile, Spanish, possibly Granada
Helmet (Sallet)
Spanish, possibly Granada
late 15th–early 16th century
Armor of Henry II, King of France (reigned 1547–59), Jean Cousin the Elder French, Steel, gold, silver, leather, textile, French, possibly Paris
Armor of Henry II, King of France (reigned 1547–59)
Designer Part of the decoration design by Jean Cousin the Elder
Designer Part of the decoration design possibly by Baptiste Pellerin
ca. 1555
Pair of Thigh Defenses (Cuisses) with Knee Defenses (Poleyns), Steel, Italian, Milan or Brescia
Pair of Thigh Defenses (Cuisses) with Knee Defenses (Poleyns)
Italian, Milan or Brescia
ca. 1590
Helmet, Steel, iron, gold, silver, copper alloy, Turkish, probably Istanbul
Helmet
Turkish, probably Istanbul
ca. 1560

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