Original Continental Victorian Period Copy of Great Helm Knight’s Helmet - Great Representative Example - C. 1850

Original Item. Only One Available. The great helm or heaume, also called pot helm, bucket helm and barrel helm, is a helmet of the High Middle Ages which arose in the late twelfth century in the context of the Crusades and remained in use until the fourteenth century. The barreled style was used by knights in most West European armies between about 1210 to 1340 AD and evolved into the frog-mouth helm to be primarily used during jousting contests.

This is an excellent Victorian-era copy of a Continental Great Helm, made purely for display. The helmet will fit over your head, but there are several flaws on the interior’s construction, and there is no inner helmet or lining, so this example was much more likely made for display.

The helmet measures 11 ¾ x 8 x 9” and shows heavy oxidation which makes it a great display piece. There are four holes in the top of the helmet, the purpose of which we do not know. The construction truly looks of the period, and this will be a great placeholder for your collection. It dates to circa 1850, but there are no markings. 

A great example, ready for further research and display.