For the medieval knight, armour was essential. It provided protection on the battlefield and signified status and rank.

As the medieval period came to a close, Renaissance ideals of peace and diplomacy prevailed and the need for battle-hardened knights disappeared. But armour remained an important symbol of elite masculinity, thanks to its association with chivalry, honour and knighthood.

Ceremonial armour became a requisite for noblemen and was worn at events such as tournaments and parade entries. Master craftsmen used techniques such as embossing, engraving and gilding to fashion pieces that wowed audiences and allowed the wearers to transform into heroic and divine beings.

Thankfully, many of these pieces survive – and their stories offer a glimpse into Renaissance society. Spoiler alert: it was a little weird.

Henry VIII’s horned helmet (circa 1512–14)

Of all the armour that survives from the Renaissance period, Henry VIII’s horned helmet is arguably the weirdest.

This helmet was a diplomatic gift from the Emperor Maximilian I in 1514. Its strange features – including a ram’s horns, a grotesque face and gold spectacles – have perplexed historians for centuries.

In Henry’s time, ram’s horns symbolised the devil or a cuckold (a man whose wife has slept with someone else). Grotesque faces and spectacles (or glasses) were associated with the appearance of a fool. Historians........

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