Close helmet: HEN.M.65-1933

Maker(s)

Unknown (Uncertain)

Entities

• Close helmet

Categories

• Armour

Description

Close helmet, for heavy cavalry use, with later embossed and chased decoration. Formed of a skull with a visor, upper bevor and bevor attached to it by common pivots; one front gorget-plate and three rear gorget-plates. The one-piece skull rises to a high, roped, medial comb. Its face-opening shows later trimming. It is pierced at each side with nine circular ventilation-holes in rosette-formation, and at the nape with a pair of holes for a missing plume-holder. The visor slopes forward at the brow to a centrally-divided vision-slit, and is fitted at the right side with a modern lifting-peg. The right of the prow-shaped visor is pierced with nine circular ventilation-slots in rosette-formation. Its upper edge is cut with a V-shaped notch to accommodate the lifting-peg of the visor. The bevor is strongly shaped to the chin. The edge of the face-opening has a file-roped inward turn. Modern swivel-hooks and pierced studs riveted at the right side of the helmet secure the upper bevor to the bevor, and the bevor to the skull. The front gorget-plate is restored. A further two front gorget-plates would originally have existed. The lowest lame of the rear gorget-plate is also restored. It has a plain inward turn at its lower edge.
The helmet is decorated overall, except on the rear gorget-plates, with bands of stylised scrolling foliage and fabulous beasts involving oval circular cartouches containing classical figures and busts, embossed in low relief and chased against a stippled ground. The main bands are separated by narrow bands of guilloche which are repeated at the upper and lateral edges of the rear gorget-plates.

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

16th Century
19th Century-20th Century#
Circa 1570 - Circa 1800 - 1933

Note

The helmet is bright with a medium patination overall.