Collection record · Objects & craft
Savoyard Helmet (Todenkopf)
The collection record classifies this work as arms and armor. It is dated c. 1600–20. Recorded culture or place: Italy or Germany, early 17th century.
Explore the object recordOBJECT RECORD
A closer look at the details.
- Museum title
- Savoyard Helmet (Todenkopf)
- Date
- c. 1600–20
- Culture / origin
- Italy or Germany, early 17th century
- Materials and technique
- steel, blackened
- Dimensions
- Overall: 30.5 cm (12 in.)
- Artist / maker
- Not specified by the museum
- Museum
- The Cleveland Museum of Art
- Accession number
- 2013.50
FROM THE MUSEUM
In the museum’s words
The following description is reproduced from the Cleveland Museum of Art’s original English record.
The term “Savoyard helmet” is used today to evoke the elite cavalry units formed by Charles Emanuel I, Duke of Savoy (1580-1630). Such helmets were designed principally to withstand and protect the wearer from shot from the powerful wheel-lock guns of the day, though their secondary function was to intimidate and terrify. The design of the helmet suggests a human face or skull. They were known as todenkopf or “death’s head” helmets in Germany. The helmet would have originally been associated with a three-quarter cuirassier armor. Similar armors are displayed nearby.
FOLLOW THE SOURCE
Text and image sources
The Cleveland Museum of Art · Severance and Greta Millikin Trust · CC0
The summary is based on public collection data. Refer to the museum’s latest record for the title, date and attribution.
Open the complete museum record View the open-access policyTHE VISITOR BOOK
What caught your eye?
Opening the visitor book…
