Page:A record of European armour and arms through seven centuries (Volume 4).djvu/194



With and without the buffe. From an engraving by Hans Sebald Beham (1500-50)

comb and fluted back, and in keeping with this is the short, slightly sloping umbril or brim, the border of which is turned under to a hollow roping, continuing down the sides and round the contour of the helmet. The lower neck-plates are of two laminated parts. In front of the skull is a dolphin's mask, with the skin and fins embossed and enriched in gold. This piece is attached at the top by a turning pin; on either side of this central mask are the tails of the same dolphins also attached by turning pins. On this, again, the wings are applied, the edges finishing by being cut to a lambrequin design; while at their other ends they finish in an embossed spiral hollow. The whole of the borders, fluting, and attached pieces have enrichments of gold. This fine helmet, which came from the collection of the Count de Nieuwerkerke, is certainly German in construction, and probably comes from the workshop of the Kolmans, if it is not the personal work of Lorenz himself. Its date is about 1530. A peculiar interest attaches to it on account of the fact that it is one of the few pieces of plate armour left in England which has that particular form of gold enrichment