Close helmet: HEN.M.15A-1933

Maker(s)

Unknown

Entities

• Close helmet

Categories

• Armour

Description

Close helmet, for use by a cuirassier. The close helmet is formed of a skull with a peak, an upper bevor and a bevor attached to it by common pivots, and two gorget-plates front and rear. The rounded skull rises to a low medial ridge which is file-roped along its crest and pierced to either side with later small holes of uncertain function. Attached by a pair of round-headed rivets at the nape is a tapering tubular plume-holder with integral arms. The pivoted peak projects forward to a rounded central point. Its front edge is cracked at four points. The medially-ridged upper bevor is cut at its upper edge with a centrally-divided, shallow, rectangular notch forming a vision-slit, and pierced with two rows of twelve vertical ventilation-slots. The medially-ridged bevor is shaped to the chin and is cut with a U-shaped face-opening. The upper bevor is secured to the bevor, and the bevor is secured to the skull by swivel-hooks riveted at the right side of the helmet. Part of the composite three-quarter armour HEN.M.15A-F-1933.

Notes

History note: Mr James Stewart Henderson of 'Abbotsford', Downs Road, St Helen's Park, Hastings, Sussex.

Legal notes

J.S. Henderson Bequest

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Bequeathed (1933-03-16) by Henderson, James Stewart

Dating

17th Century#
Production date: circa AD 1620

Note

Now is a russet colour overall, but was originally bright or in parts, perhaps blued

The close helmet, tassets (HEN.M.15F-1933) and rear skirt (HEN.M.15D-1933) are well matched and may originally have belonged to one another, with the exception of the poleyns which are composed of disparate elements and show traces of gilding.

Probably Flemish or French or Italian or German