Helmschmied Explained

Helmschmied
Other Names:	Helmschmid
Origin:	Augsburg
Country:	Holy Roman Empire Duchy of Milan
Founded:	c. 1475
Dissolution:	c. 1600
Members:	Lorenz Helmschmied Kolman Helmschmied Desiderius Kolman 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).^{[1] [2]}

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.

Further reading

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

Notes and References

1. Web site: Famous Makers and European Centers of Arms and Armor Production. Breiding. Dirk H.. October 2002. Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. Metropolitan Museum of Art. 25 January 2010.
2. Web site: Helmschmied, Plattnerfamilie. 2014-11-11. Stadtarchiv Augsburg. Stadtarchiv Augsburg.