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Adam D. Kent-Isaac




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PostPosted: Sat 13 Mar, 2010 1:45 pm    Post subject: Strange helmet at Warwick Castle and photos         Reply with quote

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?

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Sander Marechal




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PostPosted: Sat 13 Mar, 2010 2:14 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

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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PostPosted: Sat 13 Mar, 2010 3:37 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

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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Arek Przybylok




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PostPosted: Sat 13 Mar, 2010 4:15 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

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
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PostPosted: Mon 15 Mar, 2010 9:58 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

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. Happy

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Chad Arnow
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PostPosted: Mon 15 Mar, 2010 9:59 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

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.

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Chad Arnow
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PostPosted: Mon 15 Mar, 2010 10:02 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

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


 Attachment: 29.51 KB
4428899126_e778f3682c_o.jpg


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ChadA

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Daniel Sullivan




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PostPosted: Mon 15 Mar, 2010 1:22 pm    Post subject: Strange Helmet at Warwick...         Reply with quote

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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PostPosted: Mon 15 Mar, 2010 1:25 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Weren't victorian fakes usually shiny, not painted?
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Jean Thibodeau




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PostPosted: Mon 15 Mar, 2010 3:26 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Alien " Coneheads " visiting Earth for a jousting vacation in the late 14th century maybe. Razz Wink

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

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Greg Mele
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Location: Chicago, IL USA
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PostPosted: Mon 15 Mar, 2010 8:11 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

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
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