This helmet comes from a small group of closely related Spangenhelme (strap helmets). The sites where they have been found are widely scattered, ranging from Sweden to Germany, the Balkans and Libya. The Metropolitan Museum’s helmet was found in the Saône River near Trévoux, France. The quality of the helmets and their diverse find sites suggest that they were made as diplomatic gifts to foreign rulers, perhaps sent from the Byzantine court or from the Ostrogothic kingdom in Italy.
All the helmets originally had metal cheek pieces, a mail neck defense, and often an integral nasal. As on this helmet, the decoration typically consists of patterns punched into the radiating straps and birds amid an undulating grapevine embossed on the brow band. Some examples include crosses and other Christian symbols.
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Artwork Details
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Title:Helmet (Spangenhelm)
Date:6th–7th century
Culture:Byzantine or Germanic
Medium:Steel, copper alloy, gold
Dimensions:H. 8 9/16 in. (21.8 cm); Diam. 7 13/16 in. (19.9 cm); Wt. 2 lb. (907 g)
Classification:Helmets
Credit Line:Gift of Stephen V. Grancsay, 1942
Accession Number:42.50.1
[Sumner Healey, New York, 1930, sold for $2000 to Mackay]; Clarence H. Mackay, New York (1930–d. 1938; his estate, sold through Jacques Seligmann & Co. to Grancsay); Stephen V. Grancsay, New York (by July 15, 1940–42; his gift to MMA).
New York. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. "Loan Exhibition of European Arms and Armor," August 3–September 27, 1931, no. 48 (called "Frankish, 7th century," lent by Clarence H. Mackay).
Baltimore. Baltimore Museum of Art. "Early Christian and Byzantine Art," April 25–June 22, 1947, no. 350.
Boston. Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. "Romans & Barbarians," December 17, 1976–February 27, 1977, no. 159 (called Ostrogothic, 6th century).
Gröbbels, I. W. Der Reihengräberfund von Gammertingen auf höchsten Befehl Seiner Königlichen Hoheit des Fürsten von Hohenzollern. Munich, 1905. (this type of helmet discussed).
Grancsay, Stephen V. Loan Exhibition of European Arms and Armor: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, August 3 to September 27, 1931. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1931. no. 48 (called Frankish, VII century; lent by Clarence H. Mackay).
Arendt, Wsewolod. "Beiträge zur Entstehung des Spangenharnisches. Ein alttürkischer Waffenfund aus Kertsch." Zeitschrift für Historische Waffen– und Kostümkunde, Zeitschrift für Historische Waffen- und Kostümkunde, 13, n.s.v. 4 pp. 49–55
.
Arendt, Wsewolod. "Der Nomadenhelm des frühen Mittelalters in Osteuropa." Zeitschrift für Historische Waffen– und Kostümkunde, Zeitschrift für Historische Waffen- und Kostümkunde, 14, n.s.v. 5 pp. 26–34.
Kuhn, Herbert. "Spangenhelm, Gefunden auf Gotland." Ipek: Jahrbuch Für Prähistorische & Ethnographische Kunst (1936–37), p. 170 (this, and similar helmets discussed).
Saarinen, Aline B. 5000 Years of Art in Western Civilization. New York: Howell, Soskin, 1946. p. 22, no. 9, ill.
Grancsay, Stephen V. "A Barbarian Chieftain's Helmet." The Metropolitan Museum of Art Bulletin (June 1949), pp. 272–81, ill.
Grancsay, Stephen V. "The New Galleries of European Arms and Armor." The Metropolitan Museum of Art Bulletin (May 1956), pp. 206–7, ill.
Grancsay, Stephen V. "The New Galleries of Oriental Arms and Armor." The Metropolitan Museum of Art Bulletin (May 1958), p. 253, ill. (compared to an early Japanese helmet).
Metropolitan Museum of Art. Guide to the Collections: Arms and Armor. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1962. pp. 2–3, fig 2.
Grancsay, Stephen V. "A Sasanian Chieftain's Helmet." The Metropolitan Museum of Art Bulletin (April 1963), p. 262, fig. 16.
Hejdová, D. "Der sogenannte St.-Wenzels-Helm (Fortsetzung)." Waffen– und Kostümkunde: Zeitschrift der Gesellschaft für historische Waffen– und Kostümkunde, Waffen- und Kostümkunde, 26, ser. 3 v.9, no. 1
Schneider, H. "Der Helm von Niederrealta." Waffen– und Kostümkunde: Zeitschrift der Gesellschaft für historische Waffen– und Kostümkunde, Waffen- und Kostümkunde, 26, ser, 3 v. 9, no. 2
Nickel, Helmut. Warriors and Worthies: Arms and Armor Through the Ages. New York: Atheneum, 1969. p. 35, ill.
Pirling, R. "Ein Spangenhelm des Typs Baldenheim aus Leptis Magna in Libyen." In Studien Zur Vor Und Frühgeschichtlichen Archäologie: Festschrift F. Joachim Werner Z. 65. Geburtstag. München: Beck, 1974.
Romans & Barbarians. Boston: Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, 1976. p. 134, no. 159, ill. (called Ostrogothic, 6th century).
Thomas, Bruno. "Ein Ostgotischer Spangenhelm in Lybien." Waffen– und Kostümkunde: Zeitschrift der Gesellschaft für historische Waffen– und Kostümkunde, Waffen- und Kostümkunde, 40, 41, ser. 3 vols. 23, Heft 1, and 24, Heft 1 Heft 1, 1981 and Heft 1, 1982.
Gamber, Ortwin. "Die frühmittelalterlichen Spangenhelme." Waffen– und Kostümkunde: Zeitschrift der Gesellschaft für historische Waffen– und Kostümkunde, Waffen- und Kostümkunde, 41, ser. 3 v. 24, no. 2
Bonnamour, L. "Chronique Archéologique." Société d'Histoire et d'Archéologie de Chalon-sur-Saône (1985–86), pp. 27–28, ill.
Grancsay, Stephen V., and Stuart W. Pyhrr. Arms & Armor: Essays by Stephen V. Grancsay from the Metropolitan Museum of Art Bulletin 1920–1964. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1986. pp. 335–347; fig. 100.12c.
James, S. "Evidence from Dura Europas for the Origins of Late Roman helmets." Syria (1986), pp. 107–34.
Nickel, Helmut. "Arms and Armor from the Permanent Collection." The Metropolitan Museum of Art Bulletin (Summer 1991), pp. 9, 10, 64, ill.
Abbaye de Daoulas. Rome Face Aux Barbares: 1000 Ans Pour Un Empire: Abbaye De Daoulas, 19 Juin–26 Septembre 1993. [Daoulas]: Centre Cultural Abbaye de Daoulas, avec la collaboration de la Bibliothèque Nationale, 1993. nos. 83.11, 84.04.01, 84.04.02 (similar helmets).
Palazzo Reale di Milano. I Goti. Milan: Electa, 1994. p. 192, nos. III. 24–25, figs. III. 67–68 (similar helmets in Chieti and Berlin discussed).
Brown, Katharine R., Dafydd Kidd, and Charles T. Little, eds. From Attila to Charlemagne: Arts of the Early Medieval Period in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. New York and New Haven: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000. pp. 125, 357, fig. 11.8.
Vogt, Mahand. "Die Spangenhelme aus Montepagano und Chalon-sur-Saone im Deutschen Historischen Museum Berlin." Acta Praehistorica et Archaeologica, Acta Praehistorica et Archaeologica, 35 pp. 65–77.
Vogt, Mahand. "Die frühmittelalterlichen Spangenhelme – Ein Überblick zu archäologischen, kunsthistorischen und herstellungstechnischen Problemen." Acta Praehistorica et Archaeologica, Acta Praehistorica et Archaeologica, 35 pp. 9–29.
Vogt, Mahand. "Spangenhelme: Baldenheim Und Verwandte Typen." PhD diss., PhD diss., Verlag des Römisch-Germanischen Zentralmuseums, 2006. pp. 248–51, no. 28, pls. 28, 5/1, and foldout insert no. 15.
Vogt, Mahand. "Der frühmittelalterliche Spangenhelm aus dem Genfersee." Helvetia Archaeologica (2009), pp. 34–61, fig. 9.
La Rocca, Donald J. How to Read European Armor. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2017. p. 46, fig. 54.
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