Page:A record of European armour and arms through seven centuries (Volume 4).djvu/204

 German taste in embossing figure subjects. Even then only the designs of the latter half of the XVIth century are at fault; for among the mid-XVIth century armourers the most justly world famous are those of German origin. The Worms of Nuremberg, the Wolfs of Landshut, and the great family of Kolman of Augsburg are all artists honoured pre-eminently for their skill in the armourer's craft. To-day we recognize their work, not so much as that of individuals, but as standing for particular styles which each house originated; for instance, when we allude to a head-piece or other armament as made by Wolf of Landshut, we do not necessarily mean that it is the work of Sigismund Wolf, but that it is inspired from the school which Sigismund founded.

German, by Wolf of Landshut. From a comprehensive harness made for Philip II of Spain. Collection: Mr. Felix Joubert

These remarks on the characteristic qualities of the mid-XVIth century armourers of the German school have led us somewhat away from our subject of the open casque; but we feel bound to pay a slight, if belated, tribute to those beautifully made and appropriately decorated casques that come within the category of the Wolf of Landshut family. Unlike the very elaborately embossed and gilded parade helmets, they formed part of the very complete suits that exist in fragmentary form in the more im