A FINE NORTH ITALIAN ETCHED CLOSE HELMET FOR A CUIRASSIER, CIRCA 1620 formed of a two-piece skul

A FINE NORTH ITALIAN ETCHED CLOSE HELMET FOR A CUIRASSIER, CIRCA 1620 formed of a two-piece skull joined along a high medial comb recessed at the apex to receive a finial (missing), embossed with a radiating pattern of shallow flutes, pierced over each ear with nine circular ventilation-holes in rosette formation and fitted at the nape with a plume-holder, obtusely-pointed peak, flat upper bevor and bevor attached by common pivots (the right replaced), the upper bevor and bevor each secured at the right side by a swivel-hook, the upper bevor pierced between a pair of large rectangular vision-slits and a semi-circular ventilation-slit for the mouth with alternating rows of circular and rectangular ventilation-holes of smaller size, two gorget-plates at the front, the lowest descending at its centre to a rounded point, and one gorget-plate at the rear (the second missing), the main edges of the helmet decorated with plain inward turns, its surfaces etched overall on a pearled ground amid branches of stylised symmetrical foliage with bands of guilloche enclosing trophies-of-arms, and involving at the point of the chin and at the centre of the gorget-plates respectively, a lion's mask and a lion grasping a further trophy-of-arms (the left of the peak and the left of the upper gorget-plates showing losses, the right of the peak, the left of the upper front gorget-plate and the front left of the lowest front gorget plate repaired with riveted internal patches, minor cracks and perforations, some patination and wear overall) Inv. no. A017. The etched decoration of this helmet closely resembles that of a fine, early 17th century Italian cuirass and reinforcing breastplate, probably belonging to the same armour, in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Acc. Nos 14.25.796, 797 & 817. See S.V.Grancsay 1955, cat. no. 16, pp. 8-9).