Production: Unknown (Probably)
Pot helmet, for a pikeman, decorated with embossed and engraved bands and chevrons. The pot is formed in two halves with a hemispherical crown joined by a turn along its low, medial comb that rises to an obtuse point at its apex, and furnished with a broad, slightly downturned, integral brim that is obtusely pointed front and rear. A modern plume-holder of tapering tubular form with a single integral arm is riveted at the right of the nape of the crown. The front of the brim is pierced with a pair of large, modern wiring-holes.
The main edges have plain inward turns. The armour is decorated throughout with multiple bands and borders of 'terraced' form that project inwards at intervals as chevrons. The bands are emphasised by single and pairs of incised lines. The armour is decorated with borders and lines of brass-capped rivets, most of which serve as lining-rivets. Part of the pikeman's armour HEN.M.22A-E-1933.
History note: From Brancepeth Castle, Northumberland. Mr James Stewart Henderson of 'Abbotsford', Downs Road, St Helen's Park, Hastings, Sussex.
J.S. Henderson Bequest
Depth: 42.2 cm
Height: 23 cm
Weight: 1.63 kg
Width: 28.6 cm
Method of acquisition: Bequeathed (1933-03-16) by Henderson, James Stewart
17th Century, Early#
Production date:
AD 1630
England; probably Greenwich
The armour is heavily pitted and patinated overall. It may originally have been either bright or blued.
This breastplate was made at the workshop founded by Henry VIII in Greenwich in 1525 when he recruited armourers from the Continent. For much of the 16th century this workshop produced high quality and very distinctive armour for the Tudor court and nobility. In the 17th century the Greenwich armourers were still making armour like this for the top end of the market. This breastplate has tassets, the plates to protect the thighs, and helmet, called a pot, which is missing its cheekpieces which protected the sides of the face. This type of armour was worn by pikemen, foot soldiers who fought in together in formation, armed with a 16 foot (4 m) long wooden pike with a steel head.
Rivet Caps
composed of
brass (alloy)
Decoration
Parts
Hammering
: The pot is formed of two halves with a hemispherical crown joined by a turn along its low, medial comb that rises to an obtuse point at its apex, and furnished with a broad, slightly downturned, integral brim that is obtusely pointed front and rear
Patinating
Forming
Accession number: HEN.M.22A-1933
Primary reference Number: 18082
Stable URI
Owner or interested party:
The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department:
Applied Arts
This record can be cited in the Harvard Bibliographic style using the text below:
The Fitzwilliam Museum (2024) "Pot helmet" Web page available at: https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/18082 Accessed: 2024-11-15 15:22:47
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{{cite web|url=https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/18082
|title=Pot helmet
|author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2024-11-15 15:22:47|publisher=The
University of Cambridge}}
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