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Sven P
Location: Newyork Joined: 15 Jun 2013
Posts: 21
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Posted: Wed 25 Dec, 2013 7:53 am Post subject: Odd 13th century facial defence |
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I was doing some research when I came upon an illustration from the Lives of two Offas, from the mid thirteenth century. The illustration depicts a fully maille armored knight, but he is wearing a solid plate defense on his face. It resembles the front of a great helm, but it is worn like a mask over the coif, covering only the face, not the top or sides of the head. Is anyone familiar with this?
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Matthew Bunker
Location: Somerset UK Joined: 02 Apr 2009
Posts: 483
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Sven P
Location: Newyork Joined: 15 Jun 2013
Posts: 21
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Posted: Wed 25 Dec, 2013 9:52 am Post subject: |
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Yeah, that's it
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Boris R.
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Posted: Wed 25 Dec, 2013 12:21 pm Post subject: |
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maybe it is a chain hood worn over a back of the helmet
Never take life seriously. Nobody gets out alive anyway.
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Sven P
Location: Newyork Joined: 15 Jun 2013
Posts: 21
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Posted: Wed 25 Dec, 2013 12:35 pm Post subject: |
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No, from the detail in the picture it is clearly worn over the maille
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Mart Shearer
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Posted: Wed 25 Dec, 2013 3:23 pm Post subject: |
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Yes, other people are familiar with it.
1. Although the manuscript as a whole is dated to circa 1250, some of the miniatures including the one in question were added later and are dated by the British Library to c. 1320.
Quote: | The difference between Matthew's style and that of the 14th-century additions can be seen by comparing this drawing with the similar battle scene on f. 3v. |
http://manuscriptminiatures.com/4089/12324/
2. As far as anyone has determined, this is a one-off illustration, with no other known examples showing this.
My personal opinion is that this shows a face mask laced to a mail coif with plate cervelliere beneath.
ferrum ferro acuitur et homo exacuit faciem amici sui
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Luka Borscak
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Posted: Wed 25 Dec, 2013 3:48 pm Post subject: |
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Could it be a mail coif worn over the greathelm?
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Sven P
Location: Newyork Joined: 15 Jun 2013
Posts: 21
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Posted: Wed 25 Dec, 2013 5:00 pm Post subject: |
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From the illustration it is clear that is not the case
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Sven P
Location: Newyork Joined: 15 Jun 2013
Posts: 21
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Posted: Wed 25 Dec, 2013 5:02 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks! I wanted to make a reproduction of it
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