Close-Helmet
Unknown Artist
ca. 1560
Medium
Steel, polychromy
Dimensions
H. 17 1/4 in. (43.8 cm); W. 9 7/8 in. (25.1 cm); D. 15 1/4 in. (38.7 cm); Wt. 4 lb. 15 oz. (2239 g)
Classification
Helmets
Culture
British or Flemish
Department
Arms and Armor
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Purchase, Arthur Ochs Sulzberger Bequest, 2013
Accession Number
2013.624
Art Historical Context
Step into the world of 16th-century warfare with this striking *Close-Helmet*, crafted around 1560 by an unknown or Flemish armorer. Made of polished steel with vibrant polychromy—colorful paints and gilding—this helmet exemplifies the pinnacle of Renaissance armor design. Measuring just over 17 inches high and weighing nearly 5 pounds, it was tailored for a knight or man-at-arms, offering full head protection while allowing crucial mobility on the battlefield or tournament field. The close-helmet's ingenious construction features a pivoting peak and visor that could seal the face completely,...