Helmschmied

The Helmschmieds of Augsburg were one of late medieval Europe's foremost families of armourers. Their name, sometimes also spelled Helmschmid, translates to helmet smith. The family's most prominent members were Lorenz Helmschmied (floruit 1467-1515), Kolman Helmschmied (1471–1532) and Desiderius Kolman Helmschmied (1513–1579).[1][2]

Kolman Helmschmied and Agnes Breu. Wedding portrait by Jörg Breu the Elder.

The Helmschmieds made armour for Philip II of the Spanish Empire, for the high nobility of the Holy Roman Empire, including the emperor himself, the archdukes of Austria and Tyrol, as well as other wealthy clients.[1] They competed for fame and noble patronage with the other two most prominent late 15th century armoursmith families, the Seusenhofers of Innsbruck (Austria) and the Missaglias of Milan.

Many works that the Helmschmieds made for Philip II and Charles V are preserved in the Royal Armoury of Madrid, and many of their other works are kept in the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna.

References

1. Breiding, Dirk H. (October 2002). "Famous Makers and European Centers of Arms and Armor Production". Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. Metropolitan Museum of Art. Retrieved 25 January 2010.
2. "Helmschmied, Plattnerfamilie". Stadtarchiv Augsburg. Stadtarchiv Augsburg. Retrieved 2014-11-11.

Further reading

• Ortiz, A.; Carretero, C.; et al. (1991). Resplendence of the Spanish monarchy : Renaissance tapestries and armor from the Patrimonio Nacional. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art. (see index)