Fig. 13. A closed helmet with etching. Though heavier, it is more comfortable than [Fig. 12], since its weight rests partly on the shoulders.
The Museum has a number of good examples of etched armor. In [Fig. 11] we see a breastplate with etched designs of military trophies and mythological figures. [Fig. 12] shows a helmet, formerly in the collections of the Baron de Cosson and Henry G. Keasbey, of the type called morion, with an exceedingly high comb and similar etched decoration. [Fig. 13] shows a typical closed helmet of the mid-sixteenth century. Like the morion, it has a high, elaborately etched comb. The wearer’s face was protected by two plates, an upper one called the vizor, which has a narrow horizontal slit for vision like the salade described on [page 9], and a lower called the ventail which has holes and vertical slits for ventilation. Both are pivoted at the ears, so that the vizor could be raised alone or vizor and ventail together, yet at the appearance of danger both could be snapped down into position with a single sweep of the gauntleted hand. The etching on this helmet shows floral arabesques and leaping stags against a background, not blackened, but gilt. Such gilding was done by rubbing the freshly etched surface with a mixture of gold and mercury, then heating the metal to evaporate the mercury and leave behind the gold firmly attached to the steel.
Fig. 14. A heavy helmet especially designed for the tournament. The man who wore this was about as safe as armor could make him.
Tournament armor, used in the toughest, most exciting sport that man has ever invented, was worn for comparatively short periods of time, and could, therefore, be considerably heavier than the military armor which a man might have to wear continuously. Decoration on the armor itself was reduced to a minimum, although elaborate trappings of cloth and feathers were often added to it. [Fig. 14] shows a helmet for use in a form of tournament conducted according to Italian rules, in which the contestants were separated by a fence which prevented their horses from colliding, thus permitting unrestricted speed of attack. The helmet is very solid and sturdy, with plain polished surfaces to deflect the opposing lance-point. Notice the circular hollow rim at the neck. This closed over an outward-turned rim on the throat defense (colletin) so that although the helmet could be turned to either side following the motion of the wearer’s head, it could not separate from the body armor at the throat and leave an opening for hostile spear or sword point.
Fig. 15. A parade shield, etched and gilded. Italian, XVI century.
Fig. 16. A parade helmet, probably made in Germany for the Hungarian or Polish market.