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Unusual European Court Helmet

R-2Unusual European Court Helmet. Burgonet in style, the body is basically made of two pieces. The skull and a single lower back/neck section has brass trim, including along the visor and brass studs along the inner border of the tail. A large "sun-ray" gilt on copper front plate wraps around the front of the helmet - a seated "Britannia" type figure is holding a spear in her left hand and right hand extends over a crowned coat-of-arms (horizontal panel bearing three oval objects - one a hand), with an eagle with up-raised wings in the background. Surrounding the central figure are a stand of arms; her left foot is on a helmet and an armor curass is to her left. The sides of the helmet have a gilt on copper wing which has feathering and spiny features. The top of the helmet has a steel open comb with a well defined relief gilt metal winged dragon. The back underside of the back "tail" has a rather old dried velvet-type lining. A leather interior band holds a black leatherette drawstring liner. Overall, when considering the construction and features of the helmet, it would appear to be an early 19th century, with the possibility of being somewhat earlier. (The 1991 summer "Metropolitan Museum of Art Bulletin" illustrates an elaborate French parade helmet of 1760 with a similar dragon decorated top. While this might suggest the creation of lesser garnished helmets for surrounding guards, the Britannia type figure front plate and dragon might also indicate a Welsh attribution.) Rare. Condition II

II

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