A NORTH EUROPEAN CUIRASSIER'S CLOSE HELMET, CIRCA 1620-30, PROBABLY ENGLISH with rounded skull f

A NORTH EUROPEAN CUIRASSIER'S CLOSE HELMET, CIRCA 1620-30, PROBABLY ENGLISH with rounded skull formed in two pieces joined medially along a high comb fitted at its apex with the remains a later iron spike for the attachment of a funerary crest and at its base with a large plume-holder, decorated to either side of the comb with a single incised line, and possessing a later lining of canvas faced with crimson buckram (detached), visor with stepped and centrally-divided vision-slit, formed medially as a forward extension of the comb and decorated at either side of its upper edge with a cusp, its right side pierced with a hole for a missing lifting-peg, bevor of upright, slightly concave profile, pierced at either side with nine small circular ventilation-holes and decorated at both its upper and lower edges with single incised lines, and at the latter with a plain inward turn, bevor fitted at its right side with pivoted visor-prop (seized in the upright position), and a single deep rigidly-riveted gorget-plate front and rear (the front one with short crack at left side), each decorated at its lower edge with a plain inward turn accompanied by a recessed border, the visor, upper bevor and bevor attached to the skull by common round-headed pivots, the last two secured at the right side by swivel-hooks and pierced studs, the surface of the helmet painted black overall (blistered and corroded) Although made for actual use, the helmet owes its survival to having subsequently been suspended over an English tomb as part of an heraldic funerary achievement. Its painted surface and fragmentary spike for the attachment of a wooden crest are typical of helmets converted to funerary use. The helmet can be compared with one in the Royal Armouries Museum, Leeds, Inv. No. IV. 1026, bearing the crowned A mark of the London Armourers' Company, and another three in the same collection, Inv. Nos IV. 53, 1028 & 1675, bearing the mark of the London armourer Peter Newton (T. Richardson 2004, pp. 7 & 62). These helmets are similar in form to contemporary Dutch examples, but differ from them in details.