'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 turning down slightly to a similar point at its rear. The edge of the brim, which is turned inwards and roped with a file at wide intervals, is followed by a narrow recessed border.

The fourteen iron rivets with domed brass caps that encompass the base of the crown are each fitted beneath their heads with a brass washer embossed with six small circles each framing a star of six, and alternating with rays shaped like matches. The inner ends of the rivets are fitted with a diverse array of iron washers, variously rectangular with cut corners, octagonal and round. Attached at the nape by two rivets occupying its rounded arms is a restored truncated-conical plume-tube of copper encompassed by a few engraved lines.

The crown is etched in relief on a stippled and blackened ground with four pairs of narrow bands of scattered military trophies radiating from its apex and bordered in each case by single deeply etched and blackened lines, all alternating with broader panels similarly decorated, but with a circle at the centre of each framing the profiled head of a classical warrior. The brim and apex are etched in relief. All now very rubbed.

Similar to RCIN 67296. Probably Milanese or Brescian

Measurements: height 27.9 cm, width 24.3 cm, depth 37.0 cm. Weight: 1.644 kg.

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