NeilW
A Fixture
Hi Borek,
I had some issues sorting out the pics and also discovered that there's a limit of 25.
So rather than trying to re-post above I've attached an assortment below (ex the Almaric ones which are OK above).
Notable takeaways are that:
- you can't always tell if it's intended to be mail or fabric... but even so mail coifs by far outnumber anything else;
- followed by fabric (padded?) hoods;
- bascinets with a brim also common... some suggest that this could be a separate hat worn over the helmet (see that cutting above ref Almeric's and No14 below);
- several show either a basic arming cap or even nothing... sometimes with some form of mail neck protection/gorget/collar;
- a very few have cheekpieces... some refs suggest that this is a Scandinavian style;
- as time progresses bevoirs/beavers/gorgets become more common;
- as do more rounded shaped and deeper hats, some with eye slots or face cutaways... starting to evolve into sallets;
- over time chapel de fer/kettlehats seem to have gradually become more popular/common amongst the higher echelons: many show high status and royal knights wearing them (including ones bearing crowns);
- falchions are common (although as many manuscripts are biblical this may partly be an attempt at Eastern exoticism... though the falchion is a perfect melee slashing weapon);
- that Holkham Bible and the few other more ambiguous illustrations as my previous posting remain the only ones that look like some form of bearded/integral face piece;
- the Holkham Bible is here.... the manuscript site has these from it... as far as I can see the one already shown ...(see original here)...is the only one in the Bible with these strange helmets;
- none of this detracts from your decision to model Dagworth as you have..... and interesting that you say that the one you saw was in fact a separate item (in effect a sort of bevoir?).
Pages 2-5 more or less cover the period
I've also found out that via my university accreditation I can access the 'Arms and Armour' Journal... I'll check this out but did come across the one attached with the next posting.
Trust this is all of interest/value... as ever, love your work
Neil
Hope these are OK (no particular order):
NOTES TO PICS:
1.arming caps and tub-shaped kettlehat; also wielding two handed single bladed axe
2.bascinet/KH combo (could be separate items?) note ridged crest and mail coif
3.bascinet/KH combos... almost certainly separate items, one perhaps a sunhat?
4.bascinet/KH combos (could be separate items?), again note ridged crests and mail coifs
5.deep/pointed crest... coifs could be either mail or fabric
6.deep/pointed crest, some fluted... note the crown; most have fabric coifs but king/dauphin’s is mail
7.ridged KHs with mail coifs
8.all wear deep, large brimmed KHs... the density gives an idea of the press of the melee
9.looks like a skullcap with added brim... note bevoir
10.tub-shaped KH with bevoir
11.KH with bevoir... wielding what I assume is a two-handed axe (no visible blade)
12.deep KH which could be sitting on an early form of closed bascinet/armet with bevoir... note the fastening hook
13.KH with bevoir... note rivet details (perhaps an integral cap?)
14.wearing bascinet with mail coif... hat could be metal or some form of sun-hat?.... perhaps confirms suggestion that KHs were worn over other helmets
15.very tall and deep KH with cheek pieces, perhaps gilded... Scandinavian
16.classic KH but worn directly on head (unusual)
17.both ridged and plain KHs, all with mail coif... note brigandines and two handed axe
18.elaborate C14th Italian illustration with quilted coif and gambeson
19.KH worn with just a mail collar
20.again KH with just mail collars... note pole-axes/war hammers
21.classic knightly pose... note ailettes
22.trio wearing both mail and fabric coifs
23.fancy pointed KH with eye slits and bevoir... well on its way to becoming a sallet
24.deep KHs with eye slots... proto sallets... note variations in body armour (possible scales?)
25.deep KH with eye slits
