Helmschmied

The Helmschmied family of Augsburg were one of late medieval Europe's foremost families of armourers. Their name, sometimes also spelled Helmschmid, translates to helmet smith. The family's most prominent members were Lorenz Helmschmied (floruit 1467-1515), Kolman Helmschmied (1471–1532) and Desiderius Kolman Helmschmied (1513–1579).

Helmschmied Helmschmid
Kolman Helmschmied and Agnes Breu. Wedding portrait by Jörg Breu the Elder.
Country	Holy Roman Empire Duchy of Milan
Place of origin	Augsburg
Founded	c. 1475
Members	Lorenz Helmschmied Kolman Helmschmied Desiderius Kolman Helmschmied
Dissolution	c. 1600

The Helmschmieds made armour for the high nobility of the Holy Roman Empire, including multiple emperors, for rulers of the Spanish Empire, for the archdukes of Austria and Tyrol, as well as other wealthy clients. They competed for fame and noble patronage with the other two most prominent late 15th century European armour smith families, the Seusenhofers of Innsbruck (Austria) and the Missaglias of Milan.

Many works that the Helmschmieds made for Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor and Philip II of Spain are preserved in the Royal Armoury of Madrid, and many of their other works are kept in the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna.

Gallery

• 
  Sallet helmet made for Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I
• 
  Armour made for Maximillian I
• 
  Horse racing armour made for Maximillian I
• 
  Helmet made for a young boy
• 
  Pair of tassets made for Holy Roman Emperor Charles V
• 
  Burgonet helmet
• 
  William the Silent (William of Orange) wearing Helmschmied armour
• 
  Armour made for Archduke Ferdinand I, who would later become Holy Roman Emperor

Further reading

• Ortiz, A.; Carretero, C.; et al. (1991). Resplendence of the Spanish monarchy : Renaissance tapestries and armor from the Patrimonio Nacional. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art. (see index)