Close Helmet

Wolfgang Grosschedel

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Grosschedel, Landshut’s most renowned armorer of the mid-sixteenth century, fulfilled many commissions for both the German and the Spanish branches of the Hapsburg family. The decoration of this helmet is very similar to that of a large garniture made by Grosschedel for King Philip II of Spain (1513–1579) about 1560. It also resembles the decoration on a large series of armors that Grosschedel and others made for Emperor Ferdinand I (1503–1564) and his son, Maximilian II (1527–1576, Emperor from 1564) for use in a large tournament held in Vienna in 1560. It is not known to which commission the helmet originally belonged.

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