Good Morning,
I'm looking for images of leather helmets, because I would recreate one for my personal pleasure.

Thank you so much.

Gianfranco

I am not sure you are going to find much; if I recall there might be a few parade helmets from the 16th c made of leather that are highly tooled but I might be totally mistaken. There are no leather combat helmets that I have ever heard of.

There are a few 17th century examples of pikemans pots done in heavy leather, i've seen several come up at auctions, used to have a Sotheby's catalog with one, I think there several in the Tower collection as well if I recall right.

In late period (I would guess 17th to 19th century, prior to more modern sport fencing equipment), there were such things as leather fencing helmets with metal barred or perforated visors. I have previously seen a surviving antique for sale on EBay.

In the 14th and 15th century, leather (cuir bouilli) armour was used in some tournaments. There are descriptions and beautiful color illustrations of it in Rene of Anjou's "tournament book." One doing a little Googling should be able to find an acrobat download for free.

I'm pretty sure David Nicole speculates that some of the phrygian caps depicted in Anglo-Saxon art might have been stiff leather skullcaps. What period did you have in mind?

I cannot find the reference but I'm sure I've seen a description of HYW battle where it is noted that some of the "peasants" are wearing leather helms. Ring any bells?

-Steven

In the Register of Edward, The Black Prince there is a mentions of 500 leather helmets for his archers. There are a few other little leather bits in other parts as well. In one inventory there are leather vambraces.

Really leather does not appear in inventories or orders very often so I hvae wondered how common it really could have been. AS well you'd think it would have made it into artwork which it may perhaps be if you allow some of the pieces that look to be metal to be of leather.

RPM

Thanks Randall.

Any suggestions on what they looked like? Would it be safe to assume that they looked like other contemporary helms?

Thanks,
-Steven

I found this image of a supposed leather helm from the Osprey Men At Arm 376 - Italian medieval Armies 1000 - 1300.
Note: for the Italian law is possible report an image from a book if the title of the book is indicated; I don't now if this is possible in US; if not please delete the link. http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/4500/elmova8.jpg



Gianfranco

No idea what copy right is in regards to this in the US...

Steven,

I do not know of any remaining leather helmets from the period and accounts rarely describe the helmets enough to fully know what they look like. My guess would be skull cap like leather helmets but that is my guess.

RPM

Hi!

If im not mistaken, than ancient greeks used leather helmets.
Theare are some lines about it in "ilias" or "odysseia"
If i recall the helmet was leather and protected from outside with wild boar teeth. Some woolen thing was inside.
I read it fom a book if you want than i can find that book and traslate was was said about it...