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Adam D. Kent-Isaac
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 Posted: Sat 13 Mar, 2010 1:45 pm Post subject: Strange helmet at Warwick Castle and photos |
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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:
Much larger picture here.
Anyone ever seen anything like this? Is it a purely decorative funerary piece or something?
Pastime With Good Company
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Sander Marechal
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| Posted: Sat 13 Mar, 2010 2:14 pm Post subject: |
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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.
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Werner Stiegler
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| Posted: Sat 13 Mar, 2010 3:37 pm Post subject: |
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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.
 Attachment: 56.58 KB
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Arek Przybylok
Location: Upper Silesia Joined: 16 Jan 2007
Posts: 112
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| Posted: Sat 13 Mar, 2010 4:15 pm Post subject: |
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I think this is 19th century. Romanticism, Wagner, Eugène Viollet-le-Duc etc... But I don't have evidence.
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Chad Arnow
myArmoury Team
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| Posted: Mon 15 Mar, 2010 9:58 am Post subject: |
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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. 
ChadA
http://chadarnow.com/
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Chad Arnow
myArmoury Team
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| Posted: Mon 15 Mar, 2010 9:59 am Post subject: |
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| Werner Stiegler wrote: | | 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. |
"Houndskull" refers to the pointy snout on the visor, not the overall shape of the helm. The visor looks rounded on this helm, not pointed.
ChadA
http://chadarnow.com/
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Chad Arnow
myArmoury Team
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| Posted: Mon 15 Mar, 2010 10:02 am Post subject: |
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Here's a crop and light photoshopping of Adam's picture.
Attachment: 29.51 KB
ChadA
http://chadarnow.com/
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Daniel Sullivan
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| Posted: Mon 15 Mar, 2010 1:22 pm Post subject: Strange Helmet at Warwick... |
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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
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Luka Borscak
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| Posted: Mon 15 Mar, 2010 1:25 pm Post subject: |
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Weren't victorian fakes usually shiny, not painted?
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Jean Thibodeau
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Greg Mele
Industry Professional
Location: Chicago, IL USA Joined: 20 Mar 2006
Posts: 356
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| Posted: Mon 15 Mar, 2010 8:11 pm Post subject: |
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| Luka Borscak wrote: | | Weren't victorian fakes usually shiny, not painted? |
No, they usually had exactly that finish. There are a series of them on display, for example, at the Royal Armoruies, amongst which this one would look quite natural.
Greg Mele
Chicago Swordplay Guild
www.chicagoswordplayguild.com
www.freelanceacademypress.com
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This is a standard topic
