The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of December 20, 2025

Helmet Head

1952

Henry Moore

(British, 1898–1986)
England, 20th century
bronze
Base: 2.6 x 16.5 x 10.2 cm (1 x 6 1/2 x 4 in.); without base: 16.5 cm (6 1/2 in.)
Gift of the Womens Council of the Cleveland Museum of Art 1958.470
© 2010 The Henry Moore Foundation. All Rights Reserved / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York
Location: 225 German Expressionism & Surrealism

Description

British sculptor Henry Moore is known for his abstract bronze sculptures that evoke the human form. This small bronze sculpture is one of many "helmet heads" made by Moore throughout his career, reflecting his interest in visualizing the body as a protective shell. Here, the sculpture's armor-like head and shoulders appear to be embracing an empty void.
  • Cleveland Museum of Art, “Recent Acquisition Press Release,” February 25, 1959, Cleveland Museum of Art Archives. archive.org
    “Recent Accessions Briefly Noted.” The Bulletin of the Cleveland Museum of Art 46, no. 4 (April 1959): 60–61. Reproduced: p. 60 www.jstor.org
    Calder, Alexander, Robert Müller, Reg Butler, and William D. Wixom. “Three Contemporary Sculptures.” The Bulletin of the Cleveland Museum of Art 49, no. 3 (March 1962): 60–63. Mentioned and reproduced: p. 60-61, fig. 3 www.jstor.org
  • Contemporary Art. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (September 13, 1960-January 8, 1961).
  • {{cite web|title=Helmet Head|url=false|author=Henry Moore|year=1952|access-date=20 December 2025|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1958.470