[BobR61]

Hello Everyone

Thank you for the help and support on my previous thread regarding this particular helmet. Much appreciated. I would like to add a bit more information and pictures.What I am really asking is, could this be a real piece and not a Victorian copy. Based upon my research, this same helmet was featured in The Museum of Historical Arms, in January, 1965. They did not know what the metal was, they stated could be silver, but doubted. They felt it could be old Sheffield.

I have further found a similar helmet which talks of similar helmets belonging to the same group as the embossed armours of Erik XIV and three others, all in museums. Apparently there is a embossed half-armour which was in the Magniac (1890) and the MacKay Collections (Christies 1939, lot 58) and an embossed comb morion in the Warsaw Museum. I have not been able to find any pictures.

I found the same helmet on pinterest, a picture, posted on flicker.com under helmets, posted by blauepics on flickr, from the Santiago de Cuba, Casa Diego Velazquez, Spanish Steel helmet with a description stating that Diego Velazquez de Cuellar was active in leading the conquest of Cuba in 1511 under orders from Diego Columbus, recently restored as Viceroy of the Indies. He founded a number of new Spanish settlements and cities on the island, first Barcelona in 1511 and then most notably Santiago de Cuba in 1514 and Havana in 1515. The house used to be his residence.

Based on this information, where do I go from here with this? How do you know when you have a very good copy compared to an authentic one?

The helmet is a hefty 11.4lbs and it's measurements are 12 3/4" H x 9 3/4" W (measured from the pins) and front tip to back is 14 1/2".

I have attached further images of this piece.

I know it is something and not a cheap copy by far. However, I am no expert and at a loss as to where to go from here. I truly appreciate everyone's comments on this, anything helps. Thank you very much everyone!

Cheers
Bob