images of leather helmets? -- myArmoury.com

Gianfranco Bongioanni · Posted: Mon 05 Nov, 2007 10:27 am Post subject: images of leather helmets?

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

Thank you so much.

Gianfranco

James Barker · Posted: Mon 05 Nov, 2007 1:05 pm Post subject:

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.

Allan Senefelder · Industry Professional

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.

Jared Smith · Posted: Mon 05 Nov, 2007 5:08 pm Post subject:

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.

Gavin Kisebach · Posted: Mon 05 Nov, 2007 6:17 pm Post subject:

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?

Gianfranco Bongioanni · Posted: Wed 07 Nov, 2007 4:19 am Post subject:

Steven H · Posted: Wed 07 Nov, 2007 4:46 pm Post subject:

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

Randall Moffett · Posted: Thu 08 Nov, 2007 4:39 am Post subject:

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

Steven H · Posted: Thu 08 Nov, 2007 7:56 am Post subject:

Thanks Randall.

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

Thanks,
-Steven

Gianfranco Bongioanni · Posted: Thu 08 Nov, 2007 2:50 pm Post subject:

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

Randall Moffett · Posted: Fri 09 Nov, 2007 11:12 pm Post subject:

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

Merv Cannon · Posted: Sat 10 Nov, 2007 2:57 am Post subject: Leather Helms ?

Robert Rootslane · Posted: Sat 10 Nov, 2007 10:56 am Post subject:

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...