FRENCH CLOSE HELMET MID 16TH CENTURY

Cerjak · 7th February 2023, 08:03 AM

the skull is made of two pieces

Raf · 7th February 2023, 10:36 AM

Great to see.
Its reassuring that the real thing looks unquestionably right

Villerica · 7th February 2023, 07:51 PM

Thank you Cerjak. It's a very interesting Close Helmet and typically French in it's form. A nice find. I had one once but they are difficult to find.
I have the impression that I have seen it before. Has it been at auction ?
I didn't see that it was made of 2 pieces straight away. It's remarkably well done. I have the impression that I can see a rivet on the crest. Are there rivets along the crest holding the 2 sides together ?

Cerjak · 9th February 2023, 07:44 AM

in fact the two parts are assembled by means of a line of rivets, the latter are only visible from the inside except for the one that appears due to a local delamination of the roped comb. sold by TDM in June 2007

Cerjak · 9th February 2023, 11:29 AM

an other example which was offered in 2018 from the USA with less prominent visor

Villerica · 9th February 2023, 11:52 AM

That's interesting. It's a one piece though isn't it ? I had a restored one but it too had a one piece construction.

Cerjak · 9th February 2023, 11:55 AM

better pic

Villerica · 9th February 2023, 05:43 PM

Yes it's a real beauty ! Nice etching too which I think may have been gilded.

Villerica · 9th February 2023, 11:48 AM

Magnificent piece ! Thanks for the info. I do love these 2 piece Close Helmets. Maybe the first ones were made like this with a line of rivets rather than folded along the ridge. I have been told that they first appeared round about 1560-70 in France.

It has a lovely form. If it was mine I don't know if I would have it restored with a gorget or just leave it as it is.

9th February 2023, 07:44 AM	#4
Cerjak Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: FRANCE Posts: 1,064	in fact the two parts are assembled by means of a line of rivets, the latter are only visible from the inside except for the one that appears due to a local delamination of the roped comb. sold by TDM in June 2007 Attached Images

9th February 2023, 11:29 AM	#5
Cerjak Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: FRANCE Posts: 1,064	an other example which was offered in 2018 from the USA with less prominent visor Attached Images

9th February 2023, 11:55 AM	#7
Cerjak Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: FRANCE Posts: 1,064	better pic Attached Images

7th February 2023, 08:03 AM	#1
Cerjak Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: FRANCE Posts: 1,064	the skull is made of two pieces

7th February 2023, 10:36 AM	#2
Raf Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Posts: 238	Great to see. Its reassuring that the real thing looks unquestionably right

7th February 2023, 07:51 PM	#3
Villerica Member Join Date: Sep 2020 Posts: 26	Thank you Cerjak. It's a very interesting Close Helmet and typically French in it's form. A nice find. I had one once but they are difficult to find. I have the impression that I have seen it before. Has it been at auction ? I didn't see that it was made of 2 pieces straight away. It's remarkably well done. I have the impression that I can see a rivet on the crest. Are there rivets along the crest holding the 2 sides together ?

9th February 2023, 11:52 AM	#6
Villerica Member Join Date: Sep 2020 Posts: 26	That's interesting. It's a one piece though isn't it ? I had a restored one but it too had a one piece construction.

9th February 2023, 05:43 PM	#8
Villerica Member Join Date: Sep 2020 Posts: 26	Yes it's a real beauty ! Nice etching too which I think may have been gilded.

9th February 2023, 11:48 AM	#9
Villerica Member Join Date: Sep 2020 Posts: 26	Magnificent piece ! Thanks for the info. I do love these 2 piece Close Helmets. Maybe the first ones were made like this with a line of rivets rather than folded along the ridge. I have been told that they first appeared round about 1560-70 in France. It has a lovely form. If it was mine I don't know if I would have it restored with a gorget or just leave it as it is.