Thomas Del Mar - Arms & Armour

289
A SKULL OF A CLOSE HELMET, PROBABLY ITALIAN,
CIRCA 1520
formed in one piece with a globose crown cut at the front
with a broad face-opening, pierced at each side with a large
hole for a visor-pivot, flanged outwards at its lower edge
for the attachment of rear gorget-plates and embossed in
high relief at the rear with a large scallop incised with
close-set longitudinal lines, the surface retaining much of
its original black-from-the hammer finish (some corrosion,
wear and minor denting overall); fitted with A BEVOR OF A
CLOSE HELMET, PROBABLY ITALIAN THIRD QUARTER OF
THE 16TH CENTURY, with deep U-shaped face-opening,
pair of pivot-holes and outward-flanged lower edge, the
former decorated around its margin with a raised rib
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accompanied by a recessed border, the upper edges and
centre of the chin decorated with pairs of incised lines, in
the latter case enclosing cabling, the surface retaining
traces of a black-from-the-hammer finish (pitted and worn
overall, some later holes at each side of chin and neckflange)
the first: 23.5cm; 9D in high
Two close helmets in the Museo Stibbert, Florence, Inv.
Nos 2801 & 2804, have similar skulls to the first (L. G.
Boccia 1975, Cat. Nos 39 & 43, pls 42-3), as do two more in
the Musée de l’Armée, Paris, Inv. No. H. 107. A further
example can be recorded in the Museo Civico L. Marzoli,
Brescia, Inv. No. 319 (F. Rossi & N. Di Carpegna 1969, Cat.
No. 94, ill.).
£4000-6000