Close Helmet for Heavy Cavalry Use, from the Armory of the Earl of Pembroke

Cultureprobably Flemish

Date1550–1556

Mediumsteel

Dimensions27.9 × 18.4 × 32.7 cm (11 × 7 1/4 × 12 7/8 in.), 5 lb 15 oz (weight)

ClassificationsArms and Armor

Credit LineThe John Woodman Higgins Armory Collection

Terms

Object number2014.1119

DescriptionHelmet originally hammer-rough, & not finished with high glazing.

Robust one-piece ovoidal steel skull with rearwardly swept cabled comb of medium height, followed by an incised thin line on both sides. The brow edge is level, inwardly turned and deeply file-roped. The facial opening is bordered by a row of flush lining-rivets beneath whose flattened internal heads are retained fragments of a coarsely woven lining band. Below the posterior end of the comb extends a row of seven domed iron lining rivets, one of which retains the original applied brass cap. These rivets have thin squared iron washers within, and retain fragments as above. The skull extends down in a narrow, downturned flange slightly bluntly pointed at the medial region and at the holes on either end. At the ends, it is pierced for rivets of the lost gorget plate.

Pivoted at the temples is the visor/upper bevor/bevor assembly, working on a pair of plain domed iron pivots hammered internally, without washers. The brow of the visor is high, embossed for the end of the roped comb, and bracket-cut at the medial region, with edges bordered by a thin incised line. There is a set of divided sights, similarly accented above, and on the flanged anterior edge a row of reversing groups of five diagonal lines each, extending from one end of the flange to the other. The flange itself is narrow, more or less level, and fitted with a plain, restored lifting-peg on the right.

The visor fits into the prow-like upper bevor with sharp medial ridge. The arms of the upper bevor sweep up towards rounded terminals, the upper edge inwardly turned, broadly crudely file-roped and followed below by a low raised rib similarly roped, with a shallow recessed plain band between. Both are accented by thin incised lines. A notch is cut into the edge to accommodate the lifting peg. At about one third the distance from the pivots the upper edge becomes plain and bevelled, a treatment which borders the basal edge as well, accented by an incised line.

Both faces of the upper bevor are pierced with breaths in rosette patterns; there are 13 on the right and 8 on the left. Those on the left, while old, appear to be a later modification, with slightly larger holes. There is a stout, pierced peg on the right side basal edge for the curving sneck-hook of the bevor, which has a petal-cut base.

The bevor has a well formed chin with a sharp medial ridge, and has a pierced post for the now lost hook of the skull. The basal flange is formed like that of the skull, but with three rivets at the medial area for the leathers of the lost gorget plates.

The helmet was originally rather hammer rough, and not finished with a high glazing; see other Pembroke Armory helmets of similar form.

Alan Williams test, 1998/99: A sample was detached from the rim of the skull, on the left lower edge, showing a section. The microstructure consistes of a mixture of ferrite and pearlite (corresponding to a low carbon steel of around 0.3% C) with a few slag inclusions. Average surface hardness of skull = 198 VPH.
ProvenanceFormerly the armory of the Earls of Pembroke and Montgomery (Wiltshire, England) Liberty & Company (purchased at 2nd sale of Wilton House contents, lot 73, for S. J. Whawell) Samuel J. Whawell (8 Eton Avenue, Hampstead) (1923 to 6 May 1924) Liberty & Company Purchased by John W. Higgins on 30 November, 1927 from Liberty & Co., (Regent Street, London) England. Price paid: GBP57/10/0 ($287.50). Given to the Museum on December 15, 1931. Collection transfer from Higgins Armory, January 2014.

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