While at Warwick Castle, I took some photos of the small collection of armour there. Here's the full set for anyone interested. There were a few nice pieces there. But what really intrigued me was this strange helm that was sitting in an alcove near the Great Hall. It looked kind of like a houndskull bascinet, but had what looked to me like an unusually tall conical shape, like it was designed for one of the Coneheads, and a non-typical visor which was somewhat blunt and globular, not pointed.

Here:

[ Linked Image ]

Much larger picture here.

Anyone ever seen anything like this? Is it a purely decorative funerary piece or something?

The visor doesn't seem unusual to me. I've seen loads of pics of SCA folk with them. There was a thread about there a few weeks ago. I don't know how they're called but I always call them "shovel-face visors" (as opposed to pig-face).

As for the dome shape? weird... All I can think of is that it might have supported some kind of outrageous crest. But that's pure speculation.

Could it be a houndskull of some sort? It's hard to tell from that photo, but I believe it is one. The eye slits, the placement of the holes and the shape of the skull fit the bill.

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I think this is 19th century. Romanticism, Wagner, Eugène Viollet-le-Duc etc... But I don't have evidence.

The visor doesn't look that unusual to me in general form. The pointy "snouted" visor we're all familiar with was not the only bascinet visor in use. Globular, rounded visors like the one you pictured are known.

It appears similar to some great bascinets.

It could be Victorian, I guess. But it looks like the apex has been patched or repaired somehow.

Could be a funeral helm whose crown was pierced by a spike/stake. The repairs could have been to fix that. Maybe they misjudged the height of the crow when they fixed it.

I'm not sure. :)

Here's a crop and light photoshopping of Adam's picture.

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Indeed it is strange. Looks like a Victorian piece, something straight out of Laking. As Chad mentioned the globular visor is not that unusual. A majority of these, but not all, seem to be of French origin. A funeral helm? Quite possible...there was some pretty strange stuff cobbed together for that purpose.

Am very happy that Adam has a camera.....

Cheers,
Dan

Weren't victorian fakes usually shiny, not painted?

Alien " Coneheads " visiting Earth for a jousting vacation in the late 14th century maybe. :p ;)

Sorry couldn't resist:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coneheads
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coneheads_(film)