Zischägge: HEN.M.96-1933

Maker(s)

Production: Unknown (Possibly)

Entities

• Zischägge

Categories

• Armour

Description

Zischägge, for use by an harquebusier, with punched, engraved and gilt decoration. Formed of a one-piece skull, a peak, a sliding nasal-bar, a neck-defence of five lames, and a pair of cheek-pieces. The hemispherical skull is decorated around its base with a raised band separated at an interval from a recessed band, and above them with radiating flutes of V-shaped section separated by raised ribs. Riveted at the apex of the skull is a moulded finial that retains a large fretted brass washer bearing punched ornament. The flat peak, which is attached at the brow of the skull by six round-headed rivets with square internal washers, projects forward to a truncated, acute, central point. The peak is pierced at its centre with a rectangular hole to receive the sliding nasal-bar which is secured at the brow of the skull by a rectangular staple and locking-screw. The upper end of the nasal-bar is of fretted, leaf-shaped form, and its lower end is fitted with a mushroom-shaped stud that serves as a stop. The broad, flaring neck-defence is formed of five upward-overlapping lames with cusped upper edges. The lower edge of the last lame, which is deeper than the rest, projects to a truncated acute central point. The lames are connected to one another and to the skull at each side by round-headed rivets with square internal washers, and were formerly connected to one another medially by an internal leather. The free edge of the neck-defence is bordered by lining-rivets. The cheek-pieces are stepped at their upper edges where they fit under the skull. Their sides curve in to a truncated point at their lower ends. The centre of each cheek-piece is decorated with a recessed boss that is pierced with five circular ventilation-holes. The cheek-pieces are attached to the skull by pairs of modern internal leathers that run down their sides as lining-bands and converge at their lower ends to form loops that served to lace them together beneath the chin.
The peak, the neck-defence and the cheek-pieces have plain inward turns or partial turns. The helmet is decorated with recessed bands and borders of punched, engraved and gilt scrolling foliage.

Notes

History note: Mr James Stewart Henderson of 'Abbotsford', Downs Road, St Helen's Park, Hastings, Sussex.

Legal notes

J.S. Henderson Bequest

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Bequeathed (1933-03-16) by Henderson, James Stewart

Dating

17th Century, Late
Production date: circa AD 1680

Note

The cheek-pieces, the sliding nasal-bar and its locking-screw are modern restorations.

The helmet is bright with a light to medium patination overall. Its gilding is worn.

This very typical 17th century type of helmet was found right across northern Europe. The cheekpieces and the nasal bar, protecting the front of the face, are modern restorations.