The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of April 19, 2024

Helmet

Helmet

1600s
steel with gold and brass
Overall: 9.6 cm (3 3/4 in.); Diameter: 20.7 cm (8 1/8 in.)
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. John L. Severance 1919.62
Location: not on view

Description

Mughal soldiers wore hemispherical steel helmets to battle. This helmet’s surface features decorative floral patterns created using a process called damascening, in which gold wire was hammered into steel grooves. A leaf-shaped guard slides down in front of the nose for protection. The short tubes on either side of the nasal guard were for holding plumes, most popularly black heron feathers or white aigrettes. The spike that would have been on the apex has broken off. Also missing is the stuffed cotton padding that lined the interior. Chain mail made up of interlocking steel wire rings protected the ears, neck, and shoulders.
  • ?-February 8, 1919
    Theodore Offerman [c. 1873–1937], New York, NY, consigned to the American Art Association for sale
    February 8, 1919
    (American Art Association, New York, NY, Theodore Offerman Collection sale, February 8, 1919, lot no. 300)
    1919
    John L. [1863–1936] and Elisabeth Huntington DeWitt Severance [1865–1929], Cleveland, OH, given to the Cleveland Museum of Art
    1919-
    The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
  • American Art Association, New York. Ancient Arms and Weapons and Accoutrements. Theodore Offerman Collection. 7–8 February 1919. Mentioned and Reproduced: lot no. 300
    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. 56, B43 archive.org
  • Martial Art of India (Indian Painting rotation). The Cleveland Museum of Art (organizer) (February 11-August 21, 2022).
    Artlens Exhibition 2017. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (June 24, 2017-May 29, 2019).
    Art and Stories from Mughal India. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (July 31-October 23, 2016).
  • {{cite web|title=Helmet|url=false|author=|year=1600s|access-date=19 April 2024|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1919.62