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.