Late 16th century morion: artifical aging? -- myArmoury.com

Tom Wolfe

Please forgive the rookie level question on this, but I am a novice.

I've seen this morion for sale in England at a good price. However, the patina looks to my inexpert eye as though it is probably artificially aged. What do you guys think?

Thanks!

Mark Griffin · Posted: Fri 28 Aug, 2015 1:23 pm Post subject:

Your comment about the patina is right.

E.B. Erickson · Industry Professional

I agree that the patina is modern: it looks like someone has painted the helmet black and then burned it with a torch or something.

Interestingly, from the photos, the helmet itself looks OK for the early 1600s (having it in hand might change my mind!). Maybe it had been over cleaned which made someone attempt a repatination.

--ElJay

Daniel Sullivan · Posted: Fri 28 Aug, 2015 10:35 pm Post subject: Late 16th century Morion ...

Tom,

Although it is almost impossible to tell from photos, it appears to be a genuine piece to me. Please post a close up photo of both the plume holder fastening/base area and the top of the comb. Would like to see the seam where the two halves are joined. Concerning the patina, appears that either shellac or varnish has been applied over some heavy rust. Is there any evidence that rust has penetrated, holing or weak spots?

I have a heavy back plate which had a similar heavy patina coated with shellac, but stripped it to bare metal. Wish I hadn't as it has lost some appeal. Also have a set of finger guantlets, sans fingers, with a medium patina coated with varnish outside while the interiors are painted green. Will be left that way ....

Cheers,
Dan

Tom Wolfe · Posted: Tue 01 Sep, 2015 8:28 am Post subject:

Thanks to all for responses. I have conducted further research myself, and have actually found two identical morions (not just similar but actually identical) that have sold in England at auction in the last couple of years. Both were sold as Victorian copies, so I think it is fair to say that 150 years ago a company was churning these out. Obviously, with 150 years' grime on them they are starting to look the part. No doubt handling one would show it to be light as a feather though!

Needless to say I shan't be finding space for it in my collection. I made a couple of excellent acquisitions over the weekend though so my hankering for new things has been sated for a while!