Caption:
Close Helmet from a Garniture Made for a Member of the d'Avalos Family. Culture: German, Augsburg. Dimensions: H. 13 1/4 in. (33.7 cm); W. 10 in. (25.4 cm); D. 14 1/4 in. (36.2 cm); Wt. 9 lb. (4082 g). Date: ca. 1560-70.
This helmet was originally part of a complete field armor made for a member of the d'Avalos family, probably Ferrante Francesco d'Avalos (1531-1571), marquis of Vasto, who served the king of Spain as governor of Milan (1560-63), viceroy of Sicily (1568-71), and commander-in-chief of Spanish forces in northern Italy. The only other surviving parts of the armor, in addition to the helmet, are a shoulder and arm defense in the Bavarian National Museum, Munich. The distinctive and finely executed decoration ranks among the best examples of Augsburg armor ornament from this period.