Medieval Helmets and a German Sword, Antique Print, 1851

This is an original antique chromolithograph, printed in colors, from Le Moyen Âge et la Renaissance, lettered "1 et 2. XIIIe Siècle, BASSINETS. 3 et 4. XVe Siècle, CASQUES. 5. XVIe Siècle CASQUE A GROIN. 6. XVIe Siècle, EPEE ALLEMANDE. (Collection de M. le Prince Soltykoff à Paris.) 7. XVIe Siècle, CASQUE FLAMAND (Musée d'Antiquités de Bruxelles.)" Seven numbered pieces surround a broad sword that runs down the center. At the top are two pointed bascinets with visors, in the middle two rounded helmets with brims, and at the foot a helmet with a projecting snout shaped visor at the right and a black and gold helmet with a beaked grotesque face at the left. The sword has a long, broad tapering blade with a gilt panel round a medallion head, black quillons with silver scrolls and a dark grip.

The running heads read "LE MOYEN AGE ET LA RENAISSANCE" and "ARMURERIE". Beneath the image are the credits "A. Rivaud del.", "Chromolith. Lemercier, rue de Seine 57, Paris" and "Kellerhoven lith." The caption translates as: 1 and 2, thirteenth century, bascinets. 3 and 4, fifteenth century, helmets. 5, sixteenth century, helmet with a snout. 6, sixteenth century, German sword (collection of Prince Soltykoff in Paris). 7, sixteenth century, Flemish helmet (Museum of Antiquities, Brussels).

Le Moyen Âge et la Renaissance was published in Paris in five volumes between 1848 and 1851. Paul Lacroix, who also wrote as the Bibliophile Jacob, edited the text, and Ferdinand Séré directed the illustrations, which is what the line "F. Séré direxit" on the plates records. The work surveys the customs, trades, sciences, arts and literature of Europe from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance. Its arms and armor plates appear under the running head "ARMURERIE" and draw on collections such as that of Prince Soltykoff in Paris. The plates are chromolithographs, printed in color from a series of stones rather than colored by hand. This plate comes from the fourth volume, issued in 1851.

The symmetrical layout around the sword gives the sheet a strong presence in a frame, alone or with other armor plates.

This is an original antique print, not a modern reproduction. This item is sold unframed.