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3rd November 2010, 06:11 AM | #1 |
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Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Sydney Australia
Posts: 228
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And even more photos
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3rd November 2010, 11:10 PM | #2 |
(deceased)
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking
Posts: 4,310
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Hi Ron,
I assume assigning this morion to France is probably correct; the other likely choice would of course be Italy as the style of the etching is clearly based on Italian Renaissance patterns. The bearded male portrait medallion in the second to last image obviously goes back to the later Landsknecht fashion of ca. 1540-50, as known from engravings by e.g. Jost Amman and Virgil Solis. Best, Michael |
4th November 2010, 12:30 AM | #3 |
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Location: Sydney Australia
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Hi Michael
Thanks for that. I agree with your assessment of the style. The portraits do have that look. Italian is an option. Having said that, it does not to me look like what is generally described as the pisan style. And I have seen French helmets that appear to closer to this form. But I could be wrong. I haven't looked at enough of this sort of engraving to have a reliable opinion. I took a good look at the helmet and it has genuine age. There are remnants of leather at the base of the skull. These are so old they have virtually turned to charcoal. There is pitting on the inside, which may or made be concealing an armourer's mark, which I haven't yet found. Not a Victorian copy, of that I'm sure. But I'm not if this 17th century or earlier. |
4th November 2010, 02:14 AM | #4 |
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Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Sydney Australia
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Hi Michael
It is interesting you call it a morion. It is more burgonet, I think, in form. However, perhaps it could accurately be called a morion-burgonet. This is a phrase that is used to describe similar sorts of helmets - parade-type burgonets. |
4th November 2010, 05:20 PM | #5 |
(deceased)
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking
Posts: 4,310
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Hi Ron,
I called it a morion because this is the apt German word and, in the last years, also seems have been preferred by English sales houses, whereas burgonet is more confined to what we call a Sturmhaube. Sorry, I forgot to add that it should be closely dated aroud 1580, in spite of the fact that the patterns of the etching are of course older. Best, Michael |
4th November 2010, 07:49 PM | #6 |
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Location: The Sharp end
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I guess I was one of the ba-zillion people watching this on eBay.
Lovely item. I'm certainly no expert on these, so cant add much. I couldn't tell from the pics if it was period or a viccy copy. But it's very beautiful, the quality is lovely. You've got deep pockets bro! And surely now a picture of you wearing it? |
4th November 2010, 11:11 PM | #7 | |
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Location: PR, USA
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Beautiful. Congrats!
Looks Spanish to me. Best. M Quote:
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