Tournament Helmet of Emperor Ferdinand II
Conrad Richter
Date: 1555
Place Made: Germany
Materials & Techniques: Steel, leather, brass, textile and gold.
Dimensions: Weight 5.62kg, Width 170mm, Height 330mm
Accession Number: The Wallace Collection, A188
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This helmet was made in Germany 450 years ago. It was made of steel, a very hard metal that protected its owner from swords and spears. The patterns on the surface were created using acid.
This helmet was not for war. It is a specially-designed piece of sports equipment. It was worn for special events when knights fought each other in tournaments, friendly contests where the point was to show off and enjoy a great occasion such as a marriage or a political agreement.
The helmet is made in three parts. There are pivots behind each ear that allow the very closely-fitted chin and neck parts to raise so that the helmet can be put on and taken off. These pivots also allow the visor, which protects the face, to be raised and lowered. All of the parts to this helmet are formed by hammering the pieces against shaped sections of wood which are placed on stakes.
The inside is lined with padded cloth to cushion the head when the helmet was hit.
Teachers' Information
The surface decoration was created with great skill. A wax or varnish was painted on the surface and then a pattern was etched into it. The helmet was then dipped in acid. Areas unprotected by the wax or varnish would wash away leaving a raised pattern, this is called raised etching. Further decoration was then etched onto the surface with an engraving tool. It is very rare for a piece of armour to be completely covered in etched decoration and the fact that this is reflects the wealth and status of the owner. Etched decoration on armour was often created by the leading artists of the time, both Holbein and Dürer designed etched decoration on pieces of armour.
Although it is a beautiful gold colour, this helmet is actually made out of very hard, high-quality steel. It could have been made out of pure gold- the owner was certainly rich enough to afford it. Gold is very soft and easy to shape.
Activities
1. Discuss with your pupils why the owner chose to have gold-covered steel rather than a solid gold helmet.
2. Armour covered in precious metal like this helmet was incredibly expensive, but it was still sometimes used to fight, in tournaments and on the battlefield. Consider why the owner of this helmet would have fought in something so costly as gilded armour. As a rich, powerful person, what was he saying when he allowed his gold armour to be risked in a tournament?
3. Your class could study the design and materials used in different helmets. Compare this with a police helmet, a bicycle helmet and a WWII army helmet. You could think about the amount of protection they provide, who wears them and why, and whether the design changes as fashions change.