Morion Late 16th c.
One piece morion. High crest. Typical brim rising to a point at the front and back. Edge of the brim rolled and roped. Top of the crest roped to match. Holes for lining and plume holder. There is a later hole in the crest and there are 2 patches - one small one in the crest and one larger one on the bottom of the bowl. Both are old and possibly working life patches. They are formed to the relevant portion of the helmet and have tapered edges to minimize catching. They are riveted to the bowl with a number of rivets which are filed flush on the outside, minimizing the look of the repair. Inspection of the surface shows that the surface appears to be nearly original, showing a typical set of rough grinding marks in the finish. This finish would have been polished, but not as well as the original finish on item number A-184. This is a nice example of a lower quality, but still polished finish. We also see two marks, one on each side of the forhead. One appears to be square, the other forming a small cross. These appear to be marks that would occur from square section weapon impacts.
Not for sale.
German Morion Late 16th c.
Morion. One piece bowl. High, roped comb. Brim with recessed border and rolled and roped edge. Complete with iron lining rivets (still holding internal leather strip) and plume holder. Surface appears to retain old russet finish. Clear (partial) Nuremberg mark on brim. From the collection of Ernst Holzscheiter. No signs of modern cleaning or restoration. A very good, untouched helmet with good form.
Not for sale.
Morion circa 1570
One piece bowl rising to a high comb and extending to form a brim. The brim drawn out in the front and back to long points. Surface rough from the hammer and likely retaining some original finish. Eleven holes for lining rivets at the base of the skull. Ten retain rivets and nine retain large decorative pewter rosette washers. The comb is roped. The edge of the brim is formed into a narrow inward, roped turn. This is a somewhat transitional form between earlier chapel de fer and the typical late 16th c. morion. The most obvious feature of this transitional form is that the transition between the skull and brim sweeps instead of being angular. There is a delamination in the skull. The comb and edge of the skull are lightly roped. The comb has a small dent at the top.
Measurements: Weight 2 pounds 5.2 ounces (1050g). Thickness measured in the lower half of the bowl and brim varies .030-.050 in.
Not for sale.
Morion circa 1580
One piece skull. High comb. Brim with points rising at the front and back. Edge of brim with an inward turned rolled and roped border. Series of small holes at the base of the skull for attachment of the lining strip. Originally purchased as part of item number A-1.
Not for sale.
Morion circa 1580
Made in Northern Italy. Finely formed in one piece with a hight roped comb and swept brim. The comb is broad at the base, tapering to a rounded top. The top of the crest is roped and there is an engraved line parallel to the top of the comb. The transition from the comb to bowl is accentuated with an engraved line at the crease and an additional engraved parallel line on the bowl. The edge of the brim is bordered by an inward-turned roped roll over wire and a narrow recess. It is uncommon in that it retains its original blued finish. The original finish covers a smooth finish over most of the surface with signs of file marks near the points of the skull and comb which would have been difficult to access with polishing wheels. The base of the skull with a row of iron lining rivets with decorative brass washers on the outside and small iron washers and remains of a cloth lining strap on the inside. This is a fine example of a group of morions and cabassets sold by Fenton and Sons of 11 New Oxford Street, London between the 2 world wars. Others from the same source can be found in the Royal Armouries (IV. 449), Fitzwilliam Museum Cambridge (Hen. M.32, 33 and 34-1933) and Glasgow (The Real Fighting Stuff page 45). There are some small delaminations in the comb and some cracks in the brim.
Similar helmets appear in Armi e armature Museo Poldi Pezzoli (p. 39) nos. 164-175 (166 illustrated).
Measurements: 11 in. tall, 13 1/2 in. from front to back point of the brim, 7 1/8 in. wide inside the bowl and 8 7/8 in. wide at the outside of the brim.
Not for sale.
Morion circa 1580-90
Morion. Formed in one piece with a high roped comb, the base of the skull encircled by lining rivets on brass washers, down-turned brim acutely drawn-up to sharp points, and fluted border with roped edge turned over wire. The comb with small lamination hole. Light pitting.
Weight: 2 pounds 14 ounces (1310g).
Not for sale.
Morion circa 1580-90
German, Nuremberg. Rounded skull with tall, tapering comb. Comb with widely spaced fine roped decoration. Flared brim rising to a point at the front and back. Skull 'droops' deeply at the center covering more of the head than normal. Brim with an inward very finely and widely spaced roped roll turned over wire and a recessed border. Twelve holes around the skull above the brim for lining rivets (missing). Two later wiring holes at the base of the brim. Marked with the Nuremberg guild control mark at the rear point of the brim. Shows significant signs of layering and flaws from slag inclusions in the original metal. These show on the inside and outside surface as well as at the edge of the roll.
Provenance John Woodman Higgins Armory Inv. No. 2639 from William Randolph Hearst, sold Gimbel Brothers, New York, 31st October 1941.
Exhibited Charleston Art Gallery of Sunrise, Charleston, West Virginia, January-1 May 1975.
Measurements: 11 in. (28 cm) tall.
Not for sale.
German Morion 16th cent (late)
Black and white. 2 piece bowl with a high comb. Brim with prominent upturned points at the front and back. Each side embossed with a large (simplified) fleur-de-Lys.
Weight: 2 pounds 7.4 ounces (1120g).
Not for sale.
German Morion circa 1600
Black and white. Typical of the Munich town guard. 2 piece bowl with a high comb. Brim with prominent upturned points at the front and back. Each side embossed with a large fleur-de-lys. Provenance: Ackermann Collection, Luzerne.
Weight 2 pounds 10.6 ounces (1205g).
Exhibited: Feb. 10 2023-Feb. 29 2024 Orange County Historical Museum Hillsborough NC
Not for sale.
Morion circa 1600
Black and White, formed of 2 pieces. Bowl with a wide raised stripe on each side. Tall, flat comb and narrow brim rising to a point front and back. Roped comb and brim. Retains all 10 lining rivets and 9 decorative brass washers.
Not for sale.
Morion circa 1600
Two piece skull with high central comb and brim rising to points at the front and back. Comb tapering slightly from the skull to the top. Seam over the comb secured by a rounded roll with one side over the other forming a full rounded roll on both sides, and with interior riveted overlaps in the points of the brim. Ten holes for lining rivets at the base of the skull. Nine rivets remaining, eight of which retain decorative pewter washers in the form of rosettes with dot decoration. Base of the skull also pierced with pairs of holes typical of a 17th c. method of securing linings. Comb lightly roped and the edge of the brim with an inward-turned very crudely roped roll. Surface rough from the hammer. Cleaned.
Measurements: weight 2 pounds 15 ounces (1330g) thickness mainly .030-.040 in. thick.
Not for sale.
Morion early 17th c.
German. Two piece skull with high comb. Bowl decorated with large fleur de lys. Upturned brim swept up to points front and rear. Fleur and comb bright against a blackened rough from the hammer surface. Edges formed with notched inward turns. Lining rivets with copper alloy decorative washers.
Measurements: Weight 2 pounds 13.1 ounces (1335g), Thickness of the rough (black) areas including the paint generally .040-.060 in. with some areas getting up to the 070-.080 in. range. The polished areas a little thinner - mostly .030-.040 in with some parts slightly thicker.
Not for sale.
Morion early 17th c.
German. Two piece skull with high comb. Bowl decorated with large fleur de lys. Upturned brim swept up to points front and rear. Fleur and comb bright against a blackened rough from the hammer surface. Edges formed with notched inward turns. Lining rivets which have lost copper alloy decorative washers, some show signs of the missing washers' shape in the paint.
Not for sale.