  
  About the Artwork
  
  
  A high central comb, open face, and curving brim identify this helmet as a type known as a morion, which was popular throughout Europe during the late 1500s and early 1600s. It was one of many made for the household bodyguards of the rulers of the Electorate of Saxony, a powerful principality in present-day Germany. Etched and gilt scenes from the legends of Roman heroes renowned for their bravery and selfless service appear within roundels on the helmet&acirc;&#128;&#153;s sides. Alongside the Saxon coats of arms that adorn the helmet&acirc;&#128;&#153;s comb, these images reminded the wearer of his duty to the Prince-Electors he served.
  
  
  Title
  Morion of the Bodyguard of the Prince-Elector of Saxony
  
  
  Artwork Date
  ca. 1570 - 1600
  
  Artist
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  Life Dates
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  Nationality
  
  
  
  Please note:
  Definitions for nationality may vary significantly, depending on chronology and world events.
  Some definitions include:
  Belonging to a people having a common origin based on a geography and/or descent and/or tradition and/or culture and/or religion and/or language, or sharing membership in a legally defined nation.
  
  
  
  German
  
  
  
  Culture
  
  
  
  Please note:
  Cultures may be defined by the language, customs, religious beliefs, social norms, and material traits of a group.
  
  
  
  
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  Medium
  Steel, gilding, brass, leather
  
  
  Dimensions
  Overall: 10 13/16 &Atilde;&#151; 9 7/8 &Atilde;&#151; 13 9/16 inches (27.5 &Atilde;&#151; 25.1 &Atilde;&#151; 34.4 cm)
  
  
  Classification
  Arms and Armor
  
  
  Department
  European Sculpture and Dec Arts
  
  
  Credit
  Founders Society Purchase, William H. Murphy Fund
  
  
  
  Accession Number
  
  
  
  This unique number is assigned to an individual artwork as part of the cataloguing process at the time of entry into the permanent collection.
  Most frequently, accession numbers begin with the year in which the artwork entered the museum&acirc;&#128;&#153;s holdings.
  For example, 2008.3 refers to the year of acquisition and notes that it was the 3rd of that year. The DIA has a few additional systems&acirc;&#128;&#148;no longer assigned&acirc;&#128;&#148;that identify specific donors or museum patronage groups.
  
  
  
  52.160
  
  
  Copyright
  Public Domain
  
  
  
