Green rusted Corinthian helmet made out of steel
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Age of Armor

Treasures from the Higgins Collection at the Worcester Art Museum
May 15, 2022 – September 5, 2022

Age of Armor: Treasures from the Higgins Collection at the Worcester Art Museum, on view May 15, 2022, through Sept. 5, 2022, is an immersive exhibition featuring more than 100 objects highlighting the artistry, function, and societal perceptions armor shaped throughout time.

The exhibition, organized by the Worcester Art Museum (WAM) in Massachusetts, examines the historical context of armor and the pragmatic functions it served, as well as the ideological sentiments about armor throughout time, from the Middle Ages into the modern era. The Higgins Armory Collection at the Worcester Art Museum is one of the largest collections of arms and armor in the United States, comprising more than 1,500 objects from the Medieval, Renaissance and later periods in Europe. These include full suits and individual pieces of armor, swords, and early firearms.

Age of Armor features more than 80 objects from the Higgins Collection, supplemented by several pieces from the DAM’s own collections. Works from numerous departments were selected to explore ideas more deeply and connect the exhibition to the modern era. These works encourage visitors to consider how the legacy of armor and the cultural meanings it reflects have endured through time, influencing modern artwork, and, in some cases, challenging traditional histories and ideals.

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Hamilton Building, Level 2
Included in general admission

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Green rusted Corinthian helmet made out of steel

Possibly from the Greek colonies in Southern France, Corinthian Helmet, about 600–550 BCE, bronze, 20.3 × 19.1 × 26.7 cm (8 × 7 1/2 × 10 1/2 in.), 3 lb., 10 oz (weight), The John Woodman Higgins Armory Collection, 2014.7.

Helmet with a pointed broad brim made out of blackened steel with etched decorations

Master “MR”, German, from the area of Nuremberg, Comb Morion for the Guard of Christian I or II, Electors of Saxony, about 1585–1595, blackened steel with etched and gilded decoration, brass, textile and leather, 27.9 × 24.4 × 35.7 cm (11 × 9 5/8 × 14 1/16 in.), 4 lb. (weight), The John Woodman Higgins Armory Collection, 2014.48. Image © 2021 Worcester Art Museum, all rights reserved.

Worcester Pressed Steel helmet from 1917

Manufactured by Worcester Pressed Steel, Prototype Experimental Helmet Model 2, 1917, steel, 27 × 27 × 37 cm (10 5/8 × 10 5/8 × 14 9/16 in.), 2 lb (weight), The John Woodman Higgins Armory Collection, 2014.2. Image © 2021 Worcester Art Museum, all rights reserved.

Iron helmet designed in the shape of sea conch shell

Nagasone Tojiro Mitsumasa, Helmet in the form of a Sea Conch Shell, 1618, iron with traces of lacquer, textiles, 22.9 × 30.5 × 26.7 cm (9 × 12 × 10 1/2 in.), 3 lb., 13 oz (weight), The John Woodman Higgins Armory Collection, 2014.89.1

Steel, iron, and brass head-to-toe field armor

Pompeo della Cesa, Field Armor from a Garniture, about 1595, steel, iron, brass, gold, silver, leather, fabric, 56.6 × 10.5 cm (22 5/16 × 4 1/8 in.), 47 lb., 15 oz (weight), The John Woodman Higgins Armory Collection, 2014.112. Image © 2021 Worcester Art Museum, all rights reserved.

Russeted iron helmet from the 1800s

African, from the Sudanic Region, Helmet, 1800s, russeted iron with gilding, 30 × 54 × 21 cm (11 13/16 × 21 1/4 × 8 1/4 in.), 5 lb., 9 oz (weight), The John Woodman Higgins Armory Collection, 2014.91. Image © 2021 Worcester Art Museum, all rights reserved.

Pair of pistols from 1650 made out of steel and snakewood

Master H.W., Pair of Wheel-Lock Holster Pistols, about 1650, steel, snakewood, bone or horn, gilt brass, and iron, 67.3 × 48.4 cm (26 1/2 × 19 1/16 in.), 2 lb., 8 oz (weight), The John Woodman Higgins Armory Collection, 2014.433.1–2014.433.2. Image © 2021 Worcester Art Museum, all rights reserved.

Steel and tinned iron shield

Perhaps Italian, Target (shield) with Breech-Loading Gun, about 1540, wood, steel, tinned iron, brass and fabric with paint and modern restorations, 7.5 × 48.6 × 28 cm (2 15/16 × 19 1/8 × 11 in.), 9 lb., 10 oz (weight), The John Woodman Higgins Armory Collection, 2014.768. Image © 2021 Worcester Art Museum, all rights reserved.

Close-up view of a steel and wood pike head of a halberd from 1678

Colonial American (Massachusetts), Halberd for an officer of the Trained Band, 1678, steel and wood (probably maple), 22 × 213 × 44 cm (8 11/16 × 83 7/8 × 17 5/16 in.), 3 lb.,12 oz (weight), The John Woodman Higgins Armory Collection, 2014.69. Image © 2021 Worcester Art Museum, all rights reserved.

Profile view of a steel and brass tournament helmet that covers entire face and head

Southern German, from the area of Augsburg, Close Helmet for the Foot Tourney, about 1590, steel, brass and leather fragments, steel formerly blued) with etching and gilding, and brass, 31.8 × 22.9 × 34.3 cm (12 1/2 × 9 × 13 1/2 in.), 11 lb., 15 oz (weight), The John Woodman Higgins Armory Collection, 2014.1113. Image © 2021 Worcester Art Museum, all rights reserved.

Mannequin displaying steel and iron armor complete with helmet

Netherlandish, Pikeman’s Armor with Helmet for a Harquebusier, later decorated for ceremonial use, about 1625–1650, decorated in 1700s, steel, iron and paint with modern leather, 16 lb., 10 oz (weight), The John Woodman Higgins Armory Collection, 2014.1132. Image © 2021 Worcester Art Museum, all rights reserved.

Steel breastplate with brass etchings

Armor attributed to Kolman Helmschmid, etched steel perhaps by Hans Burgkmair the Elder, Reinforcing Breastplate for the Joust with Left Tasset, 1520–1525, etched steel and brass with modern leather, breastplate: 48.3 × 34.3 × 15.2 cm (19 × 13 1/2 × 6 in.), 6 lb., 4 oz (weight), tasset: 33 × 23.5 cm (13 × 9 1/4 in.), 2 lb., 12 oz (weight), The John Woodman Higgins Armory Collection, 2014.1138.3 and 2014.1138.7. Image © 2021 Worcester Art Museum, all rights reserved.

Steel and iron jousting armor, painted in black

Workshops of Wolf and Peter von Speyer or Wolf Peppinghorn, Rennzeug (armor for the ‘joust of war’), about 1590–1600, steel, iron, leather, black paint, textile and horsehair stuffing, 93 lb., 1 oz (weight), The John Woodman Higgins Armory Collection, 2014.1154. Image © 2021 Worcester Art Museum, all rights reserved.

Brown steel and brass 16th century helmet
Hans Hörburger the Elder, Comb Morion, about 1556–1586, steel, brass and leather fragments, 22.9 × 21.6 × 31.8 cm (9 × 8 1/2 × 12 1/2 in.), 2 lb., 10 oz (weight), The John Woodman Higgins Armory Collection, 2014.1094. Image © 2021 Worcester Art Museum, all rights reserved.
Cover of the Age of Armor catalog, with a full suit of armor depicted against a black backdrop

Publications

From the warriors of ancient Greek legends to the knights of the middle ages to today's comic book superheroes, the idea of personal body armor has an enduring hold on the human imagination. Armor is as old and widespread as civilization itself, but full suits of articulated steel plates were made only in Europe, and only for a brief time in the late middle ages and renaissance. This rare exhibition of highlights from one of America's foremost collections of arms and armor explores the story of armor in its golden age.

The catalog and many others are available to purchase in the DAM's Shop or online.

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Age of Armor: Treasures from the Higgins Collection at the Worcester Art Museum is organized by the Worcester Art Museum. Support is provided by the donors to the Annual Fund Leadership Campaign and the residents who support the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District (SCFD). Promotional support is provided by 5280 Magazine and CBS4.