Helmet, the Staff of Life: Eastern and Western Battle Headgear of the 16th–18th Centuries from the State Hermitage Collection  is an exhibition open at the Arsenal pavilion of the Alexander Park from 30 May through 3 September 2023.

The exhibition showcases five rare protective headpieces by Italian, German, Turkish, Indian and Russian masters. The helmets originate from a collection held at the Arsenal until the 1880s and later moved to the Imperial Hermitage.

This is the seventh installment of a long-term co-project between Tsarskoe Selo and the State Hermitage, aimed to showcase pieces of arms and armour collected by the emperors Nicholas I and Alexander II. The artefacts on display demonstrate a diversity of helmet-making traditions from Western Europe, Russia and Islamic countries, which were the regions of the imperial collectors' interest.

On our display:

• Tournament Helmet
  Missaglia Workkshop, Milan, Italy, c. 1500
• Ceremonial Helmet
  Matthias Frauenpreis (active 1550–1604),  possibly Augsburg, Germany
• Turban Helmet
  Ottoman Turkey, 2nd half 15th–16th c.
• Helmet
  India, 18th c.
• Shishak Helmet
  Kremlin Armoury, Moscow, Russia, mid-17th c.