A GERMAN BLACK AND WHITE MORION C.1580

This helmet is representative of a type of armor which gained favor in the mid-16th century. The surfaces were embossed with motifs ranging from simple bands to lavish displays accented by intricate repeated borders. The raised portions were polished bright. The backgrounds were left hammer finished only, with the surfaces usually covered with Brunswick Black, a bituminous coating which hardens with age and oxidizes with a slightly iridescent hue. Less frequently, the surfaces were displayed with their black forged scale finish. The surface of this helmet has been tinned to a glossy black. The sides are decorated with raised fleur-de-lis, a popular motif used by the Amsterdam Town Guard among others. The back is mounted with a plume holder which would have held a lavish multicolored splay of feathers, adding a striking flourish.