Info Favorites Register Log in
myArmoury.com Discussion Forums

Forum index Memberlist Usergroups Spotlight Topics Search
Forum Index > Historical Arms Talk > New Sutton Hoo work by Dave Roper Reply to topic
This is a standard topic Go to page 1, 2, 3  Next 
Author Message
Paul Mortimer




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

Posts: 285

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]



 Attachment: 53.18 KB
sutton_hoo_front.jpg

View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
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



 Attachment: 26.35 KB
sutton_hoo_horns.jpg

View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
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



 Attachment: 48.04 KB
sutton_hoo_full_front.jpg

View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
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!



 Attachment: 49.12 KB
sutton_hoo_side.jpg

View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
Hisham Gaballa





Joined: 27 Jan 2005
Reading list: 7 books

Posts: 508

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
View user's profile Send private message
Geoff Wood




Location: UK
Joined: 31 Aug 2003

Posts: 634

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
View user's profile Send private message
Mikko Kuusirati




Location: Finland
Joined: 16 Nov 2004
Reading list: 13 books

Posts: 1,080

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
View user's profile Send private message
David Ross




Location: Nashville, TN
Joined: 02 Mar 2006

Posts: 14

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

Wow! Utterly stunning work. Cool
View user's profile Send private message
Patrick Kelly




Location: Wichita, Kansas
Joined: 17 Aug 2003
Reading list: 42 books

Spotlight topics: 2
Posts: 5,739

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.
View user's profile Send private message AIM Address
Paul Mortimer




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

Posts: 285

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
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
Tim Lison




Location: Chicago, Illinois
Joined: 05 Aug 2004
Likes: 1 page
Reading list: 6 books

Spotlight topics: 1
Posts: 1,606

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......
View user's profile Send private message
Russ Ellis
Industry Professional




Joined: 20 Aug 2003
Reading list: 42 books

Posts: 2,608

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
View user's profile Send private message
Jeroen Zuiderwijk
Industry Professional



Location: Netherlands
Joined: 11 Mar 2005

Spotlight topics: 2
Posts: 740

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!
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
Greg Griggs




Location: Houston, TX
Joined: 31 Aug 2005

Spotlight topics: 1
Posts: 214

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.
View user's profile Send private message
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
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
Paul Mortimer




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

Posts: 285

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
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
Richard Fay




Location: Upstate New York
Joined: 29 Sep 2006
Reading list: 256 books

Spotlight topics: 2
Posts: 782

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
View user's profile
Steve Grisetti




Location: Orlando metro area, Florida, USA
Joined: 01 Mar 2004
Likes: 9 pages
Reading list: 28 books

Posts: 1,812

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
View user's profile Send private message
Gabriel Lebec
myArmoury Team


myArmoury Team

Location: NY, NY
Joined: 02 Oct 2003
Reading list: 32 books

Posts: 420

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
View user's profile Send private message
Peter Lyon
Industry Professional



Location: New Zealand
Joined: 20 Nov 2006
Reading list: 39 books

Posts: 249

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.
View user's profile Send private message


Display posts from previous:   
Forum Index > Historical Arms Talk > New Sutton Hoo work by Dave Roper
Page 1 of 3 Reply to topic
Go to page 1, 2, 3  Next All times are GMT - 8 Hours

View previous topic :: View next topic
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
You cannot attach files in this forum
You can download files in this forum






All contents © Copyright 2003-2024 myArmoury.com — All rights reserved
Discussion forums powered by phpBB © The phpBB Group
Switch to the Basic Low-bandwidth Version of the forum