Close Helmet 1560 - 1610

This 16th-century "Close Helmet" by Pompeo della Cesa is an example of Italian Renaissance craftsmanship. The helmet, crafted from steel, features intricate engraving and gilding, highlighting a combination of floral motifs, interlacing patterns, and figurative scenes. The helmet exemplifies the artistry and skill of Italian armorers, who fused functional protection with decorative elements. This helmet, now housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, offers a glimpse into the history of armor and the evolution of design during a period of artistic and military advancement.