PART VI.
A SLIGHT SKETCH OF SOME OF THE MORE IMPORTANT COLLECTIONS ABROAD.
The Königliche Zeughaus at Berlin.
This museum is rich in staff weapons and firearms, and is rapidly accumulating a very fine collection of armour, which has been greatly enriched by the purchase of the remarkably fine series of suits and weapons formerly belonging to Prince Carl of Prussia. The present emperor takes a great interest in the place, and has himself added several suits of armour.
The Königliche Historische Museum at Dresden.
This is perhaps the best collection for the student to visit, and is intensely valuable by reason of the strictly historic character of most of the specimens. The only weak spot is in the absence of any complete “Gothic” harness, but there are some fine pieces on exhibition. Next to suits with the date inscribed, those that are known to have been worn by historic personages provide valuable means of comparison for the student, and define the features and details presented within narrow limits as to time. The collection was, in a manner, begun by dukes Georg and Heinrich of Saxony from 1471 to 1541, and continued under the Kurfürsts. The first inventory was ordered by Kurfürst August, 1526–86, and then comprised twenty-eight mounted tournament suits for “rennen,” with their accessories and reinforcing pieces, as well as thirty-four tournament suits for “stechen.” Under the section in this volume headed “Tournaments” will be found explanations regarding the differences between “rennen” and “stechen.” The next inventory taken, 1576–84, exhibits the addition of a number of enriched suits, and between this time and 1611 many more were added. A large number of these historic suits stand, so to speak, almost in situ. In 1893 many suits and weapons were secured by purchase from the collection of Richard Zschille, and the gathering together of suits and arrangement of the foot-tournament hall accomplished. The collection thus forms a historic series of armament most unique and instructive, and at the same time most decisive in its influence on the many questions of form and opinion that have so agitated the minds of many writers on the subject. The collection of weapons of the “renaissance” and later may be described as unique in its beauty and arrangement. This section was founded in 1730, and contains an immense number of the choicest specimens, including many weapons for the chase. The collection of tools used during the sixteenth century for armour-making is most instructive and comprehensive. The catalogue by the curator, Direktor Max von Ehrenthal, is an educational book of the first order.
The Armeria Real, Madrid.
This collection has most in common with that at Vienna; and if not actually founded by the Emperor Charles V., it contains a good deal of his armour, and many weapons used by him. It was Philip II. who ordered the arrangement of the collection then existing, and his successors continually added to it; and when one considers how it has suffered from the robberies of Napoleon, and the neglect consequent upon the unsettled state of Spain for so many years, it is a matter of surprise that it has survived in its present fine condition. The collection comprises a number of most beautiful examples of armour, especially of the reigns of Charles V. and the Philips II. and III. A harness made by Koloman Helmschmied of Augsburg, for the emperor, is very notable. It bears the armourer’s mark, in conjunction with the guild monogram of the city; the suit has tuilles. There are many mounted suits, all remarkable specimens of the armourer’s art; and with the bards of one of them is a chanfrein with ram’s horns. Suits with lamboys are finely represented; as also is enriched armour. The collection of helmets, swords, shields, daggers, and separate pieces of armour and arms generally, represents almost all schools and varieties. The “Catálogo” prepared by Count Valencia is very fully and splendidly illustrated.
Die Waffensammlung des Kaiserl. Hauses at Vienna.
This collection includes that of Ambras, and the range of examples, especially armour, is even more complete and comprehensive than that at Madrid. It is rich in the most important of all schools, viz., the “Gothic”; and the general arrangement of the examples leaves little to be desired. With Custos Wendelin Boeheim at its head, it has provided the great educational agency in Europe in the determination of both arms and armour of the different periods covered in this book.
The Musée d’Armures at Brussels.
This collection has been placed in the Porte de Hal tower, an old fortress built in 1381, and all there is remaining of the old fortifications of the city. The museum is not in possession of a complete “Gothic” suit, but “Maximilian” fluted armour is worthily represented; and a later suit, with a tournament shield, is very notable. Armour of late sixteenth and early seventeenth century is there in quantity, and the collection of arms and cannon is very important. The catalogue, compiled by the accomplished antiquary, the late Hermann Van Duyse, leaves little to be desired.
The Historische Vaabensamling at Copenhagen.
This collection is placed in the old historic Töjhus, built in the reign of Christian IV. It is practically an arsenal. The collection of arms is arranged under the reign of each king, this giving obvious chronological data. A harness, with a tournament shield, reminds one strongly of the work of Peter von Speyer; the leg armour is missing in this case. Another suit in this collection is mentioned in our text.
The Armeria Reale at Turin.
This collection is especially rich in weapons of the sixteenth century, and is one of the most important in Europe.
The Germanisches Museum at Nuremberg.
This is a worthy national collection, and one of the most important and educational in Europe, by reason of the great range and excellence of the specimens both of arms and armour. Gothic armour is well represented. Examples are mentioned in our text.
The National Museum at Munich.
This collection is large, excellent, and varied, containing many important and historic examples of arms and armour. It possesses three Gothic harnesses, and each period is fully represented. Examples occur in our text.
Kungliga Lifrust Kammaren, Stockholm.
This collection contains some very fine specimens, most of them historic. One of the suits of armour is mentioned in our text (Fig. 3). A fine set of drawings, with an interesting and very correct text, has been given to the world by the curator, C. A. Ossbahr.
The Musée d’Artillerie at Paris.
Many specimens in this museum have been alluded to in our text. The collection has been exposed to frequent casualties, but it is worthy of France. It is, however, regrettable that so many of the excellent examples are incomplete. This collection deals more especially with the sixteenth century, and is very rich in guns and artillery.
There are important collections of arms and armour at Erbach, Sigmaringen, St. Petersburg, Graz, Emden, Antwerp, and many other cities of Europe.