Thomas Del Mar - Arms & Armour

300
A RARE ZISCHÄGGE, MID-17TH CENTURY, PROBABLY
GERMAN
formed of a one-piece hemispherical skull decorated with a
pattern of radiating flutes of shallow V-section bisected by
raised ribs, fitted at its apex with a moulded gilt brass finial
riveted through two large superimposed circular washers,
the lower one of iron, and the slightly smaller upper one of
gilt brass with decoratively cut edge, at its brow with a flat
obtusely-pointed peak, at its nape with a similarly-pointed
flaring neck-guard of four lames, at each side with a
pendent cheek-piece narrowing to its lower end and
pierced at its upper end with seven circular ventilationholes,
and above its left cheek-piece with a gilt plumeholder,
the peak pierced at its rear with a rectangular hole
to accommodate a sliding nasal-bar with leaf shaped upper
end and outward-angled lower end (right corner chipped)
secured at the brow by a rectangular staple and lockingscrew,
the former gilt, the main edges of the helmet
decorated with plain turns and ribs accompanied on the
peak and neck-guard by narrow grooves, the surface of the
helmet blackened overall, the large round heads of its rivets
capped with gilt brass, its interior fitted throughout with an
early lining of buff leather, that within the skull quilted with
300
tow, the lower ends of the cheek-pieces fitted with the
remains of velvet tie-loops (the lining with small holes and
tears)
27.3cm; 10N in high
£2000-2500
301
TWO CIRCULAR LEATHER GUARDS, POSSIBLY GERMAN
16TH CENTURY
each formed with a pronounced central dome, embossed
over its surface with a radiating pattern of pine cones and
roped C-shaped scrolls, plain leather border, and one
retaining a pair of buff leather straps and buckles, the other
with a portion of two buff straps (each missing a third
strap)
20.3cm; 8in
(2)
The form of these suggests that they may have been part
of a leather bard or a lining for a peytral.
£200-300
145