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Source Description

The two main "schools" of armor design in 15th-century Europe were the Italian and the German. While the Germans favored pointed "Gothic" lines and surfaces decorated with channeling, the Italian style was characterized by a smooth finish and rounded surfaces, which gave the armor a sturdy appearance. This armor combines elements of both. The helmet, a type known as a barbute, a type of sallet, is stamped with the mark of armorer Antonio Missaglia of Milan, who was active about 1450. The bevor (chin piece) is also Italian, late 15th-century. The remainder of the armor, with its channeled surfaces is typically German. Suits of armor made up of pieces from different armorers were quite common. Armor was very expensive, and individual pieces damaged on the battlefield might simply be replaced.

Scholar Source Context

Document identity
localId
15539
label
Helmet of Suit of Armor
core
obj
dtoType
object
pageCount
8
Source metadata
id
15539
contentType
object
stage
normalized
title
Helmet of Suit of Armor
description
The two main "schools" of armor design in 15th-century Europe were the Italian and the German. While the Germans favored pointed "Gothic" lines and surfaces decorated with channeling, the Italian style was characterized by a smooth finish and rounded surfaces, which gave the armor a sturdy appearance. This armor combines elements of both. The helmet, a type known as a barbute, a type of sallet, is stamped with the mark of armorer Antonio Missaglia of Milan, who was active about 1450. The bevor (chin piece) is also Italian, late 15th-century. The remainder of the armor, with its channeled surfaces is typically German. Suits of armor made up of pieces from different armorers were quite common. Armor was very expensive, and individual pieces damaged on the battlefield might simply be replaced.
provenance
Sale, American Art Association, New York, November 19, 1921, no. 316; Henry Walters, Baltimore, 1921 [mode of acquisition unknown]; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.
date
ca. 1450-1500 (Renaissance)
rightsUri
CC0
language
en
genreSpecific
body armor
helmets
barbut
imageCount
8
pageCount
8
source
import
dimensions
units
cm
width
169
height
67.8
depth
53
dimensionsRaw
Overall: 66 9/16 x 26 11/16 x 20 7/8 in. (169 x 67.8 x 53 cm)
Source extras
med
steel, leather
creator_ids
6200
6211
collection_ids
none
exhibition_ids
none
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