Cavalry Spider Helmet (1600s): Art, History and Details

Cavalry Spider Helmet (1600s) is in the Cleveland Museum of Art collection.

The work and its context

The museum's open-access catalogue describes the work:

The "spider-like" legs of this helmet protected the mounted soldier's face and head from slashing sword blows. The legs could be raised and locked up out of the way when not required.

Object facts

• Title: Cavalry Spider Helmet
• Date: 1600s
• Culture: France
• Type: Arms and Armor
• Technique: iron with black paint
• Dimensions: Overall: 30.2 x 21.3 x 17.7 cm (11 7/8 x 8 3/8 x 6 15/16 in.)
• Collection: MED - Arms & Armor
• Department: Medieval Art
• Accession number: 1921.1258

A detail from the museum

This helmet was made specifically for use in the field by the light cavalry who wore only a half suit of armor, sturdy riding boots, and an open helmet.

Collection credit

Gift of Mr. and Mrs. John L. Severance

Further reading listed by the museum

• Gilchrist, Helen Ives. A Catalogue of the Collection of Arms & Armor Presented to the Cleveland Museum of Art by Mr. and Mrs. John Long Severance; 1916-1923. Cleveland: The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1924.
• Fliegel, Stephen N. Arms and Armor: The Cleveland Museum of Art. [Cleveland, Ohio]: The Museum, 1998.
• Fliegel, Stephen N. Arms & Armor: The Cleveland Museum of Art. [Cleveland, Ohio]: Cleveland Museum of Art, 2007.

View the collection record

See the museum's photographs and full catalogue entry. Catalogue text is reproduced from the Cleveland Museum of Art's open-access data, with HTML formatting removed. This object and its supplied image are designated CC0.