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Paul Mortimer




Location: England, Essex
Joined: 28 Aug 2003
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PostPosted: Sun 05 Nov, 2006 3:52 am    Post subject: New Sutton Hoo work by Dave Roper         Reply with quote

Dave Roper (www.thehoard.co.uk) has just completed a new helmet for me. He made my previous SH helm but, Dave being a bit of a perfectionist always wanted to improve upon it. He certainly has!
The helmet isbasically an iron bowl to which are attached the faceplate, the cheekpieces and the neckguard. It is lined with a deerskin spider to from the suspension on the head.
Dave makes the decorative plates (pressbleches) by carving a die in wax, then casting it in bronze. Each of the plates are then beaten over the die using a sheet of lead to protect the material and help it to conform to the die shape. The original helmet had bronze plates that were tinned -- on this occassion we have cheated slightly as we agreed to use solid silver, mainly to improve maintenance. My other helmet had silvered bronze plates - which are a pain to keep looking presentable - the owner of the original helmet had a helmet polisher to do the work as he was a king .
Dave made new dies for this helmet as he had become aware of small details that needed changing.
The plates are held in position by swaged copper alloy strips, which are then rivetted in position.
The crest (wala) is made from iron which has silver wires forced into it - the name often given to this kind of work is the German word tauschieren. The eyebrows are also made from a similar method but this time the wires are forced into bronze. The face parts have all been gold plated.

I don't think that he has done a bad job.


Cheers,

Paul[/i]



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Paul Mortimer




Location: England, Essex
Joined: 28 Aug 2003
Reading list: 1 book

Posts: 285

PostPosted: Sun 05 Nov, 2006 3:57 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

To complement the helmet, Dave has also made a pair of replica drinking horns. Owing to the fact that auroch's horns are no longer available he has fashioned the horns himself out of various plastics and other materials. they are enormous, 4 inches in diameter and 44 inches following the curves. The metal work is mostly made from the same method as the helmet plates but this time verything is heavily gold plated.
They hold more than five pints each -- which could represent a good night out!


Paul



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Paul Mortimer




Location: England, Essex
Joined: 28 Aug 2003
Reading list: 1 book

Posts: 285

PostPosted: Sun 05 Nov, 2006 3:59 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Here is a picture of the helmet and horns together to give an indication of scale.


Paul



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Paul Mortimer




Location: England, Essex
Joined: 28 Aug 2003
Reading list: 1 book

Posts: 285

PostPosted: Sun 05 Nov, 2006 4:00 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

And a side view of the hat!


Cheers,

Paul

ps - thanks to Nathan for sizing the pictures!



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Hisham Gaballa





Joined: 27 Jan 2005
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PostPosted: Sun 05 Nov, 2006 4:18 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Beautiful workmanship, it's absolutely stunning. You are a very lucky man. Happy
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Geoff Wood




Location: UK
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PostPosted: Sun 05 Nov, 2006 4:21 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

I like, '..... we have cheated slightly as we agreed to use solid silver ......' - sort of an inverse Gerald Ratnerism.
Wonderful work!
Geoff
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Mikko Kuusirati




Location: Finland
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PostPosted: Sun 05 Nov, 2006 6:07 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

I agree, "stunning" would definitely be le mot juste here. Even aside from the materials (solid silver? cheating? well, if you say so...), with such fine and plentiful detail, it must have taken enormous amounts of sheer work.

Also, five pints, that's... about two-and-a-half liters, right? Man, that's a sixpack in one mug! They sure knew how to party, back then... Big Grin

"And sin, young man, is when you treat people like things. Including yourself. That's what sin is."
— Terry Pratchett, Carpe Jugulum
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David Ross




Location: Nashville, TN
Joined: 02 Mar 2006

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PostPosted: Sun 05 Nov, 2006 6:23 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Wow! Utterly stunning work. Cool
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Patrick Kelly




Location: Wichita, Kansas
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PostPosted: Sun 05 Nov, 2006 8:38 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Paul, thank you for sharing these photos. Once again you've shown us what a master craftsman Dave Roper must be. When you told me you were having a second helmet made I wondered why since the first one was already beautiful, as shown here.


Now I can see why. This new helmet is even more magnificent than the first. Well done by Dave and congratulations to you! I can't wait to see the completed shield.
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Paul Mortimer




Location: England, Essex
Joined: 28 Aug 2003
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PostPosted: Mon 06 Nov, 2006 11:29 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Many thanks for the positive comments, I shall pass them on to Dave. The shield should be completed next year.


Cheers,

Paul
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Tim Lison




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PostPosted: Mon 06 Nov, 2006 11:34 am    Post subject: Re: New Sutton Hoo work by Dave Roper         Reply with quote

Paul Mortimer wrote:
I don't think that he has done a bad job.[/i]


I think this is a bit of an understatement......
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Russ Ellis
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Joined: 20 Aug 2003
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PostPosted: Mon 06 Nov, 2006 12:16 pm    Post subject: Re: New Sutton Hoo work by Dave Roper         Reply with quote

Tim Lison wrote:
Paul Mortimer wrote:
I don't think that he has done a bad job.[/i]


I think this is a bit of an understatement......


I'll second that sentiment! No he did not do a bad job... more like a phenomenal, amazing incredible job... and with solid silver plates... I'm guessing the original owner would be happy to trade his for YOURS!!!

TRITONWORKS Custom Scabbards
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Jeroen Zuiderwijk
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Location: Netherlands
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PostPosted: Mon 06 Nov, 2006 12:41 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Wow Eek! Not only a masterpiece, surpassing what was already a masterpiece, but I've got to give extra credit to Dave for after making the first one, going through the entire process again to make it even better!
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Greg Griggs




Location: Houston, TX
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PostPosted: Mon 06 Nov, 2006 1:15 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Not enough superlatives in the English language to describe a piece of craftmanship such as that. Congrats on receiving a wonderful work of art, Paul, and a big hand to Dave on the fortitude to make a great piece even better!
Not one shred of evidence supports the notion that life is serious.
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Martin Wilkinson





Joined: 05 Mar 2006

Posts: 155

PostPosted: Mon 06 Nov, 2006 2:26 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

WOW!!!!

I had to pick my jaw up off the floor a couple of times after seeing this.

Absolutely amazing.

"A bullet you see may go anywhere, but steel's, almost bound to go somewhere."

Schola Gladiatoria
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Paul Mortimer




Location: England, Essex
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PostPosted: Sat 18 Nov, 2006 7:53 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Thank you all, again, for your very positive comments.
When Dave has finished the shield (next March) I will post some pictures.


Paul
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Richard Fay




Location: Upstate New York
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PostPosted: Sat 18 Nov, 2006 9:11 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Hello all!

That helmet is, unquestionably, a work of art.

Beautiful!

Stay safe!

"I'm going to do what the warriors of old did! I'm going to recite poetry!"
Prince Andrew of Armar
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Steve Grisetti




Location: Washington DC metro area, USA
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PostPosted: Sat 18 Nov, 2006 2:42 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

I am a little late in getting to this thread, but feel compelled to echo the superlative comments made thus far on Mr. Roper's work. His "Mark 1" version looked superb. This "Mark 2" version is yet another step up. Congratulations, Paul!
"...dismount thy tuck, be yare in thy preparation, for thy assailant is quick, skilful, and deadly."
- Sir Toby Belch
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Gabriel Lebec
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PostPosted: Tue 21 Nov, 2006 11:40 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Absolutely fantastic. The workmanship of the crest and eyebrows especially.
It really speaks of a rare level of care that he would return to this project and do it over again from scratch. Congratulations on becoming the caretaker of a fine work of art, Paul.
-GLL
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Peter Lyon
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Location: New Zealand
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PostPosted: Wed 22 Nov, 2006 12:40 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

That is one of the most incredible works of armour art I have ever seen - truely beautiful and amazing work. Congratulations all round.
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