Close Helmet for a Boy

Kolman Helmschmid

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Male children of aristocratic families were traditionally trained in the arts of horsemanship and fencing and began wearing armor at an early age. This finely wrought helmet, the openwork visor of which is clearly not intended for dangerous sport, was made for a boy. The distinctive one-piece visor, with its curved profile and etched ornament in the style of Daniel Hopfer, recalls late works by Kolman Helmschmid of Augsburg.

Arms and Armor

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The principal goals of the Arms and Armor Department are to collect, preserve, research, publish, and exhibit distinguished examples representing the art of the armorer, swordsmith, and gunmaker. Arms and armor have been a vital part of virtually all cultures for thousands of years, pivotal not only in conquest and defense, but also in court pageantry and ceremonial events. Throughout time the best armor and weapons have represented the highest artistic and technical capabilities of the society and period in which they were made, forming a unique aspect of both art history and material culture.

Metropolitan Museum of Art