Spanish morion: HEN.M.38-1933

Maker(s)

Unknown

Entities

• Spanish morion

Categories

• Armour

Description

'Spanish' morion, for infantry use, with modern etched and gilt decoration. Formed in one piece with an almond-shaped crown that curves down at each side and rises to a short, backward-directed 'stalk' at its apex; and an integral brim that is turned down at each side and curves up to a point at the front and rear. The edge of the brim has a file-roped inward turn accompanied by a narrow, recessed border. The brim shows two cracks in its left edge and is pierced with three later holes at the centre of its left side. The base of the crown is encircled by fourteen brass-capped, round-headed lining-rivets fitted with brass rosette washers externally, and circular iron washers internally. Two of the external washers are incomplete, and two of the internal washers are missing. Attached at the nape by a pair of brass-capped, round-headed rivets is a modern brass plume-holder with seven radiating arms with outward scrolled ends. The centre of the plume-holder is engraved with a crowned coat of arms.
The helmet is decorated on its crown with twelve vertical bands of etched and gilt trophies that radiate from its apex. Each band is enclosed to either side by three narrow plain bands. The base of the crown is encircled by five narrow, etched and gilt bands, of which the second and fourth are cabled and the remainder are plain. The brim is decorated with etched and gilt scrolling foliage.

Notes

History note: Mr James Stewart Henderson of 'Abbotsford', Downs Road, St Helen's Park, Hastings, Sussex.

Legal notes

J.S. Henderson Bequest

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Bequeathed (1933-03-16) by Henderson, James Stewart

Dating

16th Century, Late
Production date: circa AD 1580

Note

Like the comb morion, this type of helmet is often called a ‘Spanish’ morion though they were popular right across Europe. They were used by foot soldiers usually wearing a simple half armour consisting of a cuirass, breast and backplate, and armour for the arms, vambraces. Originally, it would have had cheekpieces on either side to protect the sides of the face and by which the helmet was secured on the head.

North Italian

The helmet is bright with medium pitting and patination overall. The gilding of the etched decoration shows some wear.

The treatment of the etching, taken in conjunction with its freshness relative to the pitting of the intervening surfaces, which appears to have been chemically induced, suggests that it was added to the helmet in modern times.