A Saxon Electoral Guard Comb Morion
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191W
A Saxon Electoral Guard Comb Morion
Nuremberg, Late 16th Century
Of one piece, with rounded skull rising to a tall roped comb, and downturned brim pointed fore and aft and with turned and roped edge, the base of the skull encircled by sixteen gilt-brass lion-masks each with a ring in its mouth, decorated with gilt etching comprising bands of scrollwork enclosing, on each side of the skull, figures of Mutius Scaevola and of Marcus Curtius leaping into the gulf, and on each side of the comb the arms of Saxony and the insignia of the Arch-marshalcy of the Holy Roman Empire (some rust patination and loss of gilding overall), the brim struck with the Nuremberg mark and maker's mark 'HM' above a winged cherub's head, probably of Hans Michel (1539-1599)
28 cm. high
Sold for £28,800 inc. premium

Footnotes

  • Provenance:
    From the group of helmets made for the Trabantan guard of the Prince Electors of Saxony. A large number of these morions are believed to have been given to the Dresden Opera House in the 1830s to be used as stage props. They were subsequently acquired by astute dealers and many survive today in public and private collections. See helmets inv. nos. A114-118 in the Wallace Collection, and inv. no. HEN. M.26-1933 in the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge

    Acquired from John Anderson in 1978

Category: Arms and Armour

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Specialist - Arms and Armor