Helmet (<i>Spangenhelm</i>)

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

The helmet, titled "Spangenhelm," by an unknown artist, is a damaged, ancient metal helmet with a wide base and a rounded top section. The helmet has a wide, flat brim decorated with intricate patterns and small rivets. A band of similar decoration encircles the base. The helmet's top section is made up of several curved metal strips that form a dome shape, but it is damaged and broken in several places, with large holes and cracks visible. The metal is heavily corroded and rusted, with a rough, orange-brown patina. A vertical strip of metal runs from the top of the helmet to the base, possibly a reinforcement or a fin. The background of the image is a plain gray color.