Norman One-Piece Helmet

11th-12th century AD. A Western European iron conical helmet of Norman or German origin, with one-piece bowl, the fairly low central ridge tapering off at the forehead to which a nose-guard was originally attached; the back of the neck around the lower edge is still preserved; on the front part of the helmet where the rim is completely preserved, eight holes of the original sixteen are visible, intended to fix the internal lining. See Gravett, C., Norman Knight, 950-1204 AD, London,1993; Hermann Historica, 58 Auktion, Ausgewählte Sammlungsstücke – Alte Waffen, Militärisches und Historisches Oktober, 2009, München, 2009; Profantová N., Karolinské importy a jejich napodobování v ?echách, p?ípadn? na Morav? (konec 8. – 10. století), in Zborník Slovenského Národného Múzea –archeológia supplementum 4, 2011, pp.71-104; D’Amato, R., Old and new evidence on the East Roman Helmets from the 9th to 12th centuries, in Acta Militaria Mediaevalia XI, Kraków – Sanok – Wroc?aw, 2015, pp.27-157; Coppola, G., Battaglie Normanne di terra e di mare, Napoli, 2015; our specimen has a clear parallel with a helmet presented by Hermann Historica in the auction of 08.10.2009 (Hermann Historica, 2009, cat.488), to which it is completely identical in the upper part, although the European specimen of Hermann Historica was complete with nose-guard; comparable elements are known in German private collections (D’Amato, 2015, p.70, figs.31.1-2); the iconography is rich, a helmet of this type being represented in the Add. Ms.14789, f.10 of the British Library, showing the duel between David and Goliath (Gravett, 1993, p.51"). 716 grams, 21cm (8 1/4"). From an important private family collection of arms and armour; acquired on the European art market in the 1980s, and thence by descent; accompanied by an academic report by military specialist Dr Raffaele D'Amato. This specimen belongs to the category of helmets beaten out of a single piece of metal. The nasal, as it was probably in this case, could be forged in one with the helmet, although illustrations suggest that many were made with an applied brow-band. Helmets might have been painted, and all helmets were lined. As no lining and few helmets survive, some scholars consider this idea a simple hypothesis based on the presence of rivets and the examples of later helmets. It may be that a band of leather was rivetted inside the brim, to which a coarse cloth lining was stitched, probably stuffed, quilted and possibly cut into the bowl, then adjusted for height and comfort. The helmet would have been supplied with a thong at each side which fastened under the chin to secure it on the head (Gravett, 1993, p.11"). Contemporary references to lacing helmets are common. It also helped to prevent them from being knocked over the eyes. The helmet (cassis) was usually carried fastened under the chin and the presence of a padding inside to cushion the blows was absolute necessary, since a blow of a sword or a mace, even if it did not break through the skull causing immediate death, stunned the knight making him helpless.
Condition Report: Fair condition, some loss and surface pitting, restored. Rare.