Close Helmet for the Tourney
c. 1580
Medium
Steel, brass, and leather
Dimensions
H.: 30.5 cm (12 in.)
Classification
suit-helmet
Department
Applied Arts of Europe
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
112089
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
This helmet was used in the sport of the tourney, a mock battle on horseback or on foot. To protect against dangerous trusts entering under the helmet’s neck plates, the helmet’s collar is designed to rotate on a rim that closes over the separate gorget or neck defense. Though this allowed for some lateral head movement, it was a more restrictive alternative to the overlapping plates on close helmets for the field of battle. The upper visor is reinforced with an additional plate to deflect stri...
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...