'Spanish' morion, made in Northern Italy, formed in one piece with a tall almond-shaped crown rising at its apex to a short backward-directed ‘stalk’, and a narrow integral brim rising slightly to a point at its front and rear. The edge of the brim is followed by a narrow recessed border.

A series of 14 rivet-holes for the attachment of a lining and cheek-pieces encompass the lower part of its crown. The crown is etched in relief in four bands radiating from its apex with scattered military trophies on a stippled and blackened ground. Each band is enclosed between two pairs of blackened lines flanking a wider band of summarily rendered circles. In the intervals are etched strapwork cartouches framing classical busts, pendent on ribbons edged with candelabrum-like scrolls of stylised foliage. The helmet is further etched around the base of its crown with summarily rendered roping between two pairs of lines . The brim is etched with a corona of stylized acanthus tips and at its apex with an acanthus calyx. The whole is now very rubbed.

Similar to RCIN 67373.  Probably Milanese or Brescian.

The phrase ‘Murryons of Spanyshe fassyon’ is found in the 1588 Inventory of the Tower Armouries. The accounts of the Master of the Armouries, dating from the early seventeenth century contain many references to converting ‘old combe moryons into serviceable Spanishe moryons’. Sir John Smythe writing in 1591 refers to ‘vpright morrions after the Spanish manner’.

Measurements: height 23.5 cm, width 23.5 cm, depth 30.5 cm. Weight: 1.247 kg.

Text adapted from Arms and Armour in the Collection of Her Majesty The Queen: European Armour, London, 2016