Spanish morion: HEN.M.48-1933

Maker(s)

Unknown

Entities

• Spanish morion

Categories

• Armour

Description

'Spanish' morion, for infantry use, with a blackened finish. Formed in one piece with an almond-shaped crown that rises to a backward-directed stalk just to the rear of its apex, and a narrow integral brim that projects slightly to a rounded end at the front and rear. The brim has a file-roped inward turn accompanied by a narrow recessed border. The base of the crown is encircled by twelve round-headed lining-rivets fitted with external brass rosette washers and circular internal washers. Attached by a pair of round-headed rivets with circular internal washers at the nape of the crown is an incomplete and crushed plume-holder of thin sheet brass decorated with a pattern of incised chevrons. Two later holes are pierced at the upper end of the right side of the crown, and a small wiring-hole is pierced at the rear end of the brim. The morion lacks its cheek-pieces.

Notes

History note: An undated, illustrated circular, formerly in the possession of Gerald I. Mungcam Esq. (photograph of it held by the Royal Armouries Museum, Leeds), shows that this was one of a series of such morions offered for sale by Fenton & Sons, 11 New Oxford Street, London, for a price of £5. 5s. 0d. each. Mr James Stewart Henderson of 'Abbotsford', Downs Road, St Helen's Park, Hastings, Sussex.

Legal notes

J.S. Henderson Bequest

Acquisition and important dates

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

Dating

16th Century, Late
Circa 1580 - 1590

Note

According to tradition, these morions were supposed to have been acquired by W. H. Fenton from a storehouse in Spain, having been deposited there for use by the Spanish Armada in 1588, but never actually used. However, in a letter dated 23 December 1969, Claude Blair informed Ian Eaves that he had been told by Theodore Egli, late armourer to the Tower of London Armouries, and previously armourer to Samuel Fenton, that 'Fenton' (either W.H. or Samuel Fenton) had bought a whole lot of morions in Ireland between the World Wars.

North Italian

The helmet retains the greater part of its original blackened finish. It shows some minor pitting and oxidation.

The morion forms part of a series of such helmets dispersed by Messrs Fenton & Sons of 11 New Oxford Street, London. Other examples of the series are to be found in the present collection, HEN.M.49-1933, and the Royal Armouries Museum, Leeds.