Comb morion: HEN.M.34-1933

Maker(s)

Unknown

Entities

• Comb morion

Categories

• Armour

Description

Comb morion, for infantry use, with a blackened finish. Formed in one piece with a rounded crown that curves down at each side and rises to a fairly high roped, medial comb; and an integral brim that is turned down at each side and curves up to a point at the front and rear. The edge of the brim has a file-roped inward turn accompanied by a narrow, recessed border. The comb is decorated with single incised lines at its crest, and pairs of incised lines at its base. The base of the skull was originally encircled by eighteen round-headed lining-rivets fitted with brass rosette rivets externally, and circular iron washers internally. Two of the rivets at the right side are missing, and many of the remainder lack their internal washers. The surviving washers retain fragments of a linen lining-band. One of the rivets at each side retains fragments of the leathers for the attachment of the missing cheek-pieces. A pair of rivet-holes pierced at the nape, just above the level of the lining-rivets, served to attach a missing plume-holder.
The helmet shows a small crack at the right side of its brim, and a larger one at the front end of the left side of its brim.

Notes

History note: An undated, illustrated circular, formerly in the possession of Gerald I. Mungcam Esq. (photograph of it held by the Royal Armouries Museum, Leeds), shows that this was one of a series of such morions offered for sale by Fenton & Sons, 11 New Oxford Street, London, for a price of £5. 5s. 0d. each. Mr James Stewart Henderson of 'Abbotsford', Downs Road, St Helen's Park, Hastings, Sussex. J.S. Henderson Bequest

Legal notes

J.S. Henderson Bequest

Acquisition and important dates

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

Dating

16th Century, Late
Production date: circa AD 1580

Note

According to tradition, these morions were supposed to have been acquired by W. H. Fenton from a storehouse in Spain, having been deposited there for use by the Spanish Armada in 1588, but never actually used. However, in a letter dated 23 December 1969, Claude Blair informed Ian Eaves that he had been told by Theodore Egli, late armourer to the Tower of London Armouries, and previously armourer to Samuel Fenton, that 'Fenton' (either W. H. or Samuel Fenton) had bought a whole lot of morions in Ireland between the World Wars.

North Italian

The helmet retains the greater part of its original blackened finish. It shows some minor pitting and wear.

The morion forms part of a series of such helmets dispersed by Messrs Fenton & Sons of 11 New Oxford Street, London. Other examples of the series are now to be seen in the Royal Armouries Museum, Leeds (A. R. Dufty & W. Reid, European Armour in the Tower of London, London, 1968, pl. CII (c).), the Glasgow Museum and Art Gallery, and the collections of Ian Eaves, London, and William Reid, London.