"Furdess Helm

Jim McDougall · 3rd July 2013, 07:52 PM

In the spirit of summer doldrums, I saw this one edging toward the abyss and thought I would bump it to the top. While surprised that nobody made any note, my interest was piqued despite having little knowledge on these Viking arms, and had some questions myself.

In these cases I usually will do a little research, check a book or two and see what the item in question is about. All I could find on this is that the term 'Furdess' is used on reproduction Viking helmets, but no reference to where the term came from.
All indications are that there are few Viking helmets extant, one reference suggested only one reliably authenticated. That would lead me to believe that the helmet being queried here is not likely authentic (even though I cannot see a photo or description of same). It would be hard to specify a period for an undescribed and non illustrated helmet (helms were usually the medieval knight and jousting form of enclosed helmet as far as I know).
What is likely is that it is Viking period in style, and unclear when it would have been made.
As usual simply an exercise, but it would be interesting if anyone out there knows anything about Viking helmets and why the Furdess term.

3rd July 2013, 07:52 PM	#2
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,281	In the spirit of summer doldrums, I saw this one edging toward the abyss and thought I would bump it to the top. While surprised that nobody made any note, my interest was piqued despite having little knowledge on these Viking arms, and had some questions myself. In these cases I usually will do a little research, check a book or two and see what the item in question is about. All I could find on this is that the term 'Furdess' is used on reproduction Viking helmets, but no reference to where the term came from. All indications are that there are few Viking helmets extant, one reference suggested only one reliably authenticated. That would lead me to believe that the helmet being queried here is not likely authentic (even though I cannot see a photo or description of same). It would be hard to specify a period for an undescribed and non illustrated helmet (helms were usually the medieval knight and jousting form of enclosed helmet as far as I know). What is likely is that it is Viking period in style, and unclear when it would have been made. As usual simply an exercise, but it would be interesting if anyone out there knows anything about Viking helmets and why the Furdess term.