Detail of armet, the horned helmet, 1512-1514, IV.22. Royal Armouries, CC BY 4.0

 

Made by one of the 16th's century's leading armourers, Konrad Seusenhofer, the horned helmet is one of the Royal Armouries' most iconic pieces. It was a diplomatic gift given to Henry VIII in 1541 by Maximilian I, who was Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire. The horns don't appear to have been part of the original helmet. We don't really know when or why they were added, or who made them.

 

This image is part of our Up Close online exhibition, which was made possible with funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Thanks to National Lottery players, we have been able to use digital to enable our audiences to explore our collection in new and exciting ways.