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.