The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of December 1, 2023

Close Helmet in Maximilian Style

c. 1520

Germany, 16th century

Steel and brass

Overall: 30.5 x 21.8 x 32 cm (12 x 8 9/16 x 12 5/8 in.)

Gift of Mr. and Mrs. John L. Severance 1916.1855

Location

210A Armor Court

Fun Fact

Known as the "Last Knight," Maximilian played a prominent role in this history of armor by building up the armament industry and fostering the modernization of the armorer's craft.

Description

The regular fluting of this helmet is a style known as "Maximilian," named after Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor (1493–1519). Besides being decorative the fluting is a strengthening device that works similar to corrugated metal. This decoration would have been costly as it was time consuming to produce and required precise work. It would have only been available to the wealthiest of clients.

Inscriptions
Inscription Translation

KXR

Provenance
Prince Christopher Nikolaus Radziwill I (Mikołaj Krzysztof Radziwiłł) (1549-1616), Niasviž, Belarus
-1877
James Drummond Collection (1816-1877), Edinburgh, Scotland
-1916
Frank Gair Macomber (1849-1941), Boston, MA, sold to the Cleveland Museum of Art
1916-
The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
Citations
Catalogue of Arms and Armour. Vol. 3, 16th century. [Boston, Massachusetts]: [Frank Gair Macomber], [1900-1915]. Mentioned and Reproduced: No. (138) 141 archive.org
Gilchrist, Helen Ives. A Catalogue of the Collection of Arms & Armor Presented to the Cleveland Museum of Art by Mr. and Mrs. John Long Severance; 1916-1923. Cleveland: The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1924. Mentioned: p. 44, B9; Reproduced: Plate IX, B9 archive.org
Gilchrist, Helen Ives, and Cleveland Museum of Art. Handbook of the Severance Collection of Arms and Armor. Cleveland, OH: Cleveland Museum of Art. 2nd ed., 1948. Mentioned: p. 14-15 ; Reproduced: p.29 archive.org
The Cleveland Museum of Art. Handbook of the Cleveland Museum of Art/1966. Cleveland, OH: The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1966. Reproduced: p. 109 archive.org
The Cleveland Museum of Art. Handbook of the Cleveland Museum of Art/1969. Cleveland, OH: The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1969. Reproduced: p. 109 archive.org
The Cleveland Museum of Art. Handbook of the Cleveland Museum of Art/1978. Cleveland, OH: The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1978. Reproduced: p. 127 archive.org
Cleveland Museum of Art. Cleveland Art: The Cleveland Museum of Art Members Magazine. Vol. 36 no. 10, December 1996 Mentioned & reproduced: p.8 archive.org
Fliegel, Stephen N. Arms and Armor: The Cleveland Museum of Art. [Cleveland, Ohio]: The Museum, 1998. pp. 93, 165; cat. no. 61
Fliegel, Stephen N. Arms & Armor: The Cleveland Museum of Art. [Cleveland, Ohio]: Cleveland Museum of Art, 2007. cat. no. 60, p. 185
Exhibition history

Traditions and Revisions: Themes from the History of Sculpture. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (September 24-November 16, 1975).

Armor Court Reinstallation. The Cleveland Museum of Art (organizer).

Source URL: https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1916.1855