A RARE SOUTH GERMAN CLOSE HELMET FOR THE TOURNEY, CIRCA 1590, AUGSBURG OR DRESDEN of notable weig

A RARE SOUTH GERMAN CLOSE HELMET FOR THE TOURNEY, CIRCA 1590, AUGSBURG OR DRESDEN of notable weight, formed of a rounded skull rising to a high roped medial comb, pierced at the rear of the neck with six small rivet-holes for the attachment of a missing plume-holder and to either side of it with four lace-holes, visor, upper bevor and bevor attached by common pivots with domed heads, the visor with a prominent step beneath its single broad vision-slit and a spring-catch at the right side (pull missing), upper bevor with roped upper edge, pierced at its left side with twenty-six small circular ventilation holes arranged in three concentric circles and at the right side with a similar arrangement of twenty-four holes, the right side secured by a spring-catch with button release, the bevor fitted with a threaded bolt and retaining its wing-nut for the attachment of a reinforce, lower bevor shaped to the chin and secured to the right of the skull by a spring-catch with push-button release and fitted with pivotted prop for the upper bevor, the lower edges of the skull flanged outwards to receive missing gorget-plates (one small patched repair at the nape of the neck), and the left side of the skull showing numerous cuts from a rebated sword 27cm; 10 3/4in high

Provenance The Property of a Gentleman, sold Sotheby & Co., 31st July 1951, lot 67.

The strongly stepped visor, the provision for a reinforce, the overall form and the weight of this helmet is reminiscent of the well known group of armours made for the Elector Christian I of Saxony (1560-91). Several complete armours of this type are still preserved in Dresden and were used for tournaments until just before the Second World War. See E. Haenel 1923, pl. 9.