Thomas Del Mar - Arms & Armour

290
A RARE FRENCH CLOSE HELMET FOR FIELD USE WITH
ETCHED AND GILT DECORATION, CIRCA 1570
formed of a rounded skull constructed in two pieces joined
medially along the apex of a high roped comb and fitted at
the nape with a later plume-holder of brass, visor, upper
bevor and bevor attached by common pivots (replaced),
the forward-sloping visor stepped and roped beneath its
broad single vision-slit and fitted at its right side with a
lifting-peg (replaced), the strongly prow-shaped upper
bevor roped at its upper edge, pierced at its right side with
eight circular ventilation-holes in rosette formation and
secured to the bevor at the same side by a swivel-hook
(perhaps replaced), the lower edges of the skull and bevor
flanged outwards for the attachment of gorget-plates of
which only the uppermost front one is preserved, the sides
of the comb etched and gilt on a hatched ground with
alternating foliate scrolls inhabited by winged herms (the
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upper edge of the visor and the flanged lower edges of the
skull and bevor showing some losses and patched repairs,
the surface of the helmet showing much pitting and wear)
30cm; 11N in high
The helmet closely resembles in both form and
construction those belonging to a series of French royal
armours made circa 1555-80 (J. P. Reverseau 1982, pp. 54-
63, 68-7 & 72-9; J. P. Reverseau 1982, pp. 146-7). These
include the finely etched and gilt armours G. 119, G. 120 &
G. 121 in the Museé de l’Armée, Paris. The decoration of
the comb of G. 120, made for Charles IX in the period 1564-
74, is particularly close to that of the helmet described
here.
£6000-7000
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