Skip to main content

Comb morion: HEN.M.36-1933

Object information

Current Location: In storage

Maker(s)

Unknown (Probably)

Entities

Categories

Description

Comb morion, for infantry use. Formed in one piece with a fairly high, medial comb terminating some distance above the brow and the nape, and a narrow, slightly downturned brim. The rear of the brim is dented and cracked. The base of the crown is encircled by ten modern, round-headed lining-rivets of brass. A further such rivet, probably for the attachment of a chin-strap, is located just in front of the central lining-rivet at each side. Six more such rivets, possibly occupying holes for the attachment of some form of applied brow-ornament, are arranged in two columns of three at the front of the brow between the lower end of the comb and the brim.

Notes

History note: Mr James Stewart Henderson of 'Abbotsford', Downs Road, St Helen's Park, Hastings, Sussex.

Legal notes

J.S. Henderson Bequest

Measurements and weight

Depth: 27.2 cm
Height: 19.5 cm
Weight: 1.24 kg
Width: 23.2 cm

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Bequeathed (1933-03-16) by Henderson, James Stewart

Dating

16th Century, Mid#
Production date: circa AD 1550

Note

A morion of identical form, bearing identical marks, is in the Royal Armouries Museum, Leeds, Inv. No. IV. 490 (A.R. Duffy & W. Reid, European Armour in the Tower of London, London, 1968, pl. LXXVI). HEN.M.37-1933 represents another example of the series. A further morion of the type is in the Museo Civico L. Marzoli, Brescia, while several others are in the Museo Poldi Pezzoli, Milan.

Probably Spanish

The helmet is bright with a light patination overall and some patches of pitting, especially on the brim

Components of the work

Lining-rivets composed of brass (alloy)
Parts

Materials used in production

Steel

Techniques used in production

Hammered : Formed in one piece with a fairly high, medial comb terminating some distance above the brow and the nape, and a narrow, slightly downturned brim; hammered, shaped, riveted
Forming

References and bibliographic entries

Identification numbers

Accession number: HEN.M.36-1933
Primary reference Number: 18290
Stable URI

Audit data

Created: Saturday 6 August 2011 Updated: Thursday 6 February 2020 Last processed: Thursday 7 December 2023

Associated departments & institutions

Owner or interested party: The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department: Applied Arts

Citation for print

This record can be cited in the Harvard Bibliographic style using the text below:

The Fitzwilliam Museum (2024) "Comb morion" Web page available at: https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/18290 Accessed: 2024-12-22 22:10:51

Citation for Wikipedia

To cite this record on Wikipedia you can use this code snippet:

{{cite web|url=https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/18290 |title=Comb morion |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2024-12-22 22:10:51|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

API call for this record

To call these data via our API (remember this needs to be authenticated) you can use this code snippet:

https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/api/v1/objects/object-18290

Sign up for updates

Updates about future exhibitions and displays, family activities, virtual events & news. You'll be the first to know...