1040 - Iron helmet with a conical top and a mail neck guard, Russian forest-steppe region, 12th–13th centuries A.D.

Iron helmet with a conical top and a mail neck guard, Russian forest-steppe region, 12th–13th centuries A.D. Conical crown with a rim that curves slightly outward. In the lower half, the wall is steep and slightly curved outward; then, following a gentle but distinct break, the upper section curves slightly inward, ending at the top with a 3-cm-wide opening where a crest was once attached. In the rear part of the calotte, approximately 2.5 cm from the rim, eyelets made of round, curved bands are attached in close succession, spaced about 3 cm apart. A wire is threaded through these eyelets, with each end forming a loop that encircles the upper half of the eyelet. A rectangular visor, hanging down approximately 28 cm, is suspended from this wire. The visor’s rings are made of alternating rows of stamped and riveted rings. The diameter of the round calotte at the lower edge is 25 cm. Height: 22 cm. Expertly conserved and stabilized. The interior contains encrustations of fine-grained gravel. The helmet, which is largely complete, has a few minor missing sections. Otherwise, an excellently preserved helmet representing the polyethnic population of the forest-steppes of the Russian High Middle Ages. CULTURAL HERITAGE! Provenance: Belgian private collection of J.C. Acquired in 1969 on the American art market. Condition: II