SOLD Extremely Rare Authentic Antique Medieval 10th -12th century European Norman Knight conical Helmet extremely well hand forged, entirely of one piece of thick solid steel with a perfectly smooth exterior surface. This helmet shows the type of construction used on some of the finest products of the most gifted armorers of the period. Most of the helmets of this period were hammered from iron, only the finest ones were made of steel. This particular helmet is made of high-carbon steel as indicated by the weight since the high-carbon steel is heavier than iron. The steel of the helmet vibrates from gently taping by fingernail on broken parts which in test are making sound. The way how the skull is damaged with sharp cracks is characteristic for steel since iron is much more malleable than steel, which confirms the steel characteristic of the helmet. On the base edges of the helmet are visible rivets to attach the hanging cheek and neck pieces


The Norman type of the helmet were made in three types: Helmets forged entirely of one piece of steel with integral nasal, helmets forged entirely of one piece of steel without of nasal, and helmets constructed from several plates riveted together. Sometimes the nasal was made separately and riveted to the helmet


As can been seen in the Norman style helmet of St Wenceslas, which the helmet had been forged from one piece of steel without the nasal. The nasal guard decorated with the figure of Jesus has been applied later to that helmet. This helmet and also the helmet in the collection of Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna, Austria strongly resemble all the features of our helmet.


The Lewis chessmen (ca 1150-1200), the Normans knights, wore helmets with out a nasal like this helmet


Please see the link below.


http://www.flickr.com/photos/45665351@N00/4023338694/in/photostream



http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:KHM_Wien_A_41_-_Moravian_nasal_helmet,_11th_century.jpg



https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:St_Wenceslas_helmet.jpg



http://en.chessbase.com/home/TabId/211/PostId/4006665


The great Normans expanded in medieval Europe stretching from Scandinavia to the territory of Ireland, Brittan, northern France, Southern Italy, Central and Eastern Europe, Byzantium and all lands where they were active. Their superior armor and swords were recognized as the best military equipment (including Islamic Caliphates) according to the Muslims authors from the early middle ages. The Norseman swords and helmets were highly valued in the Islamic World. The participation of the Normans in large numbers in the crusades, made their helmets commonly used by the crusaders in Holy Land. The theory that similar other nations made the helmets or swords locally in the Norman style is false. Since those nations do not have such a high of scale of experience as the masters of metal work which were the Normans, all of these helmets and swords are in fact not made by those similar other nations, however they were important as gods.


REFERENCES: There only a few of these authentic Norman helmets that exist mostly in a museum collection. The most important source on this subject is early medieval iconography which has been published in one of the best books of this subject, “Arms and Armour of the Crusading Era 1050-1350: Western Europe and the Crusader States (v. 1) by David Nicolle. This is the best reference existing on our helmets that show similar Norman conical helmets without of nasal are presented on the following pages:

364, 365, 366, 368, 372, 451, 464, 484, 505, 532.


The buyer will be provided with the photocopies of the pages from this reference.


CONDITION: Dark brown Rust Damaged on the one side dented in one spot ,several cracks .Damage most likely made by the impact the word or mace, same rust holes, however the core very strong and stable.


DIMENSIONS: The overall length: 24cm (9 3/8 in). Width: 19.5 cm (7 5/8 in) Height: 18.5 cm (7 1/4 in).


Weight: 1214 grams - 1.214 Kilograms (2.67641 Pounds)


Such Rare specimen rely can been seen for sale and can bee a great addition for the world class museum or the private collection.

For more information and color photos please visit our website



http://www.101antiquesword.com

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