Half of a Morion

Jim McDougall · 1st April 2021, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AHorsa

Thank you for the further replies. Yes, this type is described as German about 1580. I doubt that all of this helmets can be attributed to the Munich town guard, as they appear pretty often. But it could be an interesting hint that they are meybe of south German origin.

As noted, these seem to be pretty much a constant in auctions as far as these combed morions go, and have been for some time. Often they appear as an example in discussions of the use of the fluer de lis to indicate that this symbol was far from exclusively French. As a well known center for arms and armor, I wonder if these became a noted style which supplied other units in other 'town guard' activity, thus the apparent volume of these helmets.

AHorsa · 1st April 2021, 04:00 PM

It would be interesting to see some contemporary images/engravings of that time showing a soldier or a guard wearing such a black and whtie morion or at least a plane morion. As they survived in such high numbers, there must be some. But I´ve never seen one. Does anyone of you? The only image I know is this one from 1572 showing some soldier wearing helmets that could be (abstracted) morions (next to the trunks and in the background).

Kind regards
Andreas

fernando · 1st April 2021, 04:02 PM

I have checked a few (auction) sources and in one of them a half dozen comb morrions with different embossed patterns were labeled Munich Town Guard; this speaks for itself.
There must be out there some honest reference to the appearing of the "black & white' + 'fleur de lis" craze. In fact they are "more than their mothers"; i even saw one in a local auctioner; one i feared for its authenticity.
But one thing we know; the comb morrion originates from Spain and, in context, was extended to the Portuguese.
Here are two nice XVII century Benin bronzes depicting armoured Portuguese soldiers wearing morrions. Apparently without a comb, though.

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AHorsa · 1st April 2021, 04:23 PM

What a great find, Fernando! Those figures really depict history

fernando · 1st April 2021, 04:50 PM

Cristovão Colombo arriving in the New World, an engraving from the XVI century.

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fernando · 1st April 2021, 04:58 PM

Francisco Coronado in his expedition from what is now Mexico to present-day Kansas, in 1540-1542.

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AHorsa · 1st April 2021, 06:37 PM

Thanks for posting the images. Is the second one old or modern?

fernando · 1st April 2021, 07:46 PM

That one i woldn't know; certainly not from thr period.
(Courtesy The New York Pubic Library)

1st April 2021, 04:00 PM	#2
AHorsa Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: Rhineland Posts: 377	It would be interesting to see some contemporary images/engravings of that time showing a soldier or a guard wearing such a black and whtie morion or at least a plane morion. As they survived in such high numbers, there must be some. But I´ve never seen one. Does anyone of you? The only image I know is this one from 1572 showing some soldier wearing helmets that could be (abstracted) morions (next to the trunks and in the background). Kind regards Andreas Attached Images

1st April 2021, 04:02 PM	#3
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	I have checked a few (auction) sources and in one of them a half dozen comb morrions with different embossed patterns were labeled Munich Town Guard; this speaks for itself. There must be out there some honest reference to the appearing of the "black & white' + 'fleur de lis" craze. In fact they are "more than their mothers"; i even saw one in a local auctioner; one i feared for its authenticity. But one thing we know; the comb morrion originates from Spain and, in context, was extended to the Portuguese. Here are two nice XVII century Benin bronzes depicting armoured Portuguese soldiers wearing morrions. Apparently without a comb, though. . Attached Images Last edited by fernando; 1st April 2021 at 04:13 PM.

1st April 2021, 04:23 PM	#4
AHorsa Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: Rhineland Posts: 377	What a great find, Fernando! Those figures really depict history Last edited by AHorsa; 1st April 2021 at 04:49 PM.

1st April 2021, 04:50 PM	#5
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	Cristovão Colombo arriving in the New World, an engraving from the XVI century. . Attached Images

1st April 2021, 04:58 PM	#6
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	Francisco Coronado in his expedition from what is now Mexico to present-day Kansas, in 1540-1542. . Attached Images

1st April 2021, 06:37 PM	#7
AHorsa Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: Rhineland Posts: 377	Thanks for posting the images. Is the second one old or modern?

1st April 2021, 07:46 PM	#8
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	That one i woldn't know; certainly not from thr period. (Courtesy The New York Pubic Library)