represent plumage. It appears to be of Augsburg workmanship, and dates towards the middle of the XVIth century. Of the three head-pieces we are now discussing the Vienna helmet is perhaps the finest achievement in the way of the grotesque; it bears the armourer's mark of Georg Seusenhofer of Innsbrück, and shows signs throughout of his excellent craftsmanship. The visor, which takes the form of a wolf or fox mask, is most bizarre; but it served a really utilitarian purpose, inasmuch as its great depth, a depth essential to carry out the design, lent space to the interior of the helmet, which greatly facilitated the breathing of the wearer. The etched ornamentation of the helmet is said to be the work of an Innsbrück painter, Hans Pirckheimer(?), and judging from the heraldic achievement upon the crest, which bears a device used by Ferdinand as King, we may place the date of this head-piece as slightly anterior to 1530 (Fig. 1185).
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Fig. 1185. Helmet
German, the work of Georg Seusenhofer of Innsbrück. Made for King Ferdinand about 1528. Imperial Armoury, Vienna
Contemporary in fashion with these grotesque head-pieces are those
