Painted helmets- How common were they?

[Romulus]

Greetings.

I am thinking of painting my next helmet rather than going with the snazzy polish job. I have seen a number of painted examples of 'black sallets', which I quite like, but I am thinking of a slightly earlier era, say hundred year war/ crecy. How common were painted helmets in that time frame, and what was painted on them?
Thank you in advance.

R.

[Fearghus Macildubh]

Funny you should ask that. I just got back from London where I went the Wallace Collection and the curator of arms and armour for the museum, Toby Capwell talked about a painted sallet they have in the collection. According to him, period inventories list painted helmets, but only a handful have survived. Two reasons are that they were often lower quality helmets that collectors did not seek out and the other is Victorian art dealers often polished the paint off to make helmets fit the image customers wanted "in shining armour".

[Romulus]

Thank you for your prompt reply. I will give more involved thought then to putting some paint on my new helmet and not feel as though it is completely inaccurate.

[Baron Alcyoneus]

From the Mac Bible (1250ish) through the 16thC.

[Cassiano di Pisa]

I know that painted or gilded helmets appear to be extremely common in the Norman era, and I have seen several examples of painted kettle hats from your time period and before but I can not think of a single referance for bascinets being painted.

[Halbrust]

I have aspangenhelm that I'll be painting. Painting the "plates" black and shining the cross frame.

Any evidence that this was done in period?

[Effingham]

You know, I really wish I had a time machine so I could go back in time and kick Bashford Dean and his like-minded buddies up the arse.

[InsaneIrish]

Greetings.

I am thinking of painting my next helmet rather than going with the snazzy polish job. I have seen a number of painted examples of 'black sallets', which I quite like, but I am thinking of a slightly earlier era, say hundred year war/ crecy. How common were painted helmets in that time frame, and what was painted on them?
Thank you in advance.

R.

I think you could get away with a solid color, party colors, geometric motifs, even simple designs. There are even extant examples of "monster" faces painted on helms.


















I think too, that the style of helmet plays a role. I've not seen any info that bascinets with visors were painted. But, I can't say they weren't either.

[Baron Alcyoneus]

You know, I really wish I had a time machine so I could go back in time and kick Bashford Dean and his like-minded buddies up the arse.

What for this time?

[les yeich]

I know that painted or gilded helmets appear to be extremely common in the Norman era, and I have seen several examples of painted kettle hats from your time period and before but I can not think of a single referance for bascinets being painted.

the romance of alexander has plenty of examples. actually painted bascinets aren't especially hard to find in period art.

[fghthty545y]

I know that painted or gilded helmets appear to be extremely common in the Norman era, and I have seen several examples of painted kettle hats from your time period and before but I can not think of a single referance for bascinets being painted.

the romance of alexander has plenty of examples. actually painted bascinets aren't especially hard to find in period art.

I noticed that, there's a lot of painted kettle halmets in there too.
Although they're shown a soild colour, rather than a design. (usualy red or blue)
I'd say painted helemts were much more common in period than they are in modern re-creation groups.

[Ernst]

There are documents prohibiting the covering of bascinets before sale, and documenting the costs of covering bascinets with white leather. I would be hesitant to conclude that illustrations of red bascinets is proof of paint, as it could indicate velvet or leather instead.

[owen matthew]

Great pictures, Irish, thank you!

I remember seeing what I think I recall was a kettle with a lion on it in blues and greens. It was almost like an impreza more than just painting. Does that ring any bells?

[Sayer Prikehert]

That's it - when I get my kettle back from Hjalmr, I'm painting it! I really dig that red and white with stars...though it doesn't fit my or my knights arms. I'll think of something.

[fghthty545y]

There are documents prohibiting the covering of bascinets before sale, and documenting the costs of covering bascinets with white leather. I would be hesitant to conclude that illustrations of red bascinets is proof of paint, as it could indicate velvet or leather instead.

That is interesting!

[Effingham]

You know, I really wish I had a time machine so I could go back in time and kick Bashford Dean and his like-minded buddies up the arse.

What for this time?

Pretty much general principles.

[Halbrust]

I have aspangenhelm that I'll be painting. Painting the "plates" black and shining the cross frame.

Any evidence that this was done in period?

That's a good question!
Unfortunately I don't know the answer

[Russ Mitchell]

Emma was painted white, and she was a mail shirt. I don't see why not.

[Baron Alcyoneus]

There are documents prohibiting the covering of bascinets before sale, and documenting the costs of covering bascinets with white leather. I would be hesitant to conclude that illustrations of red bascinets is proof of paint, as it could indicate velvet or leather instead.

That is interesting!

That isn't because they thought it was wrong to cover helmets, or armor. It was a matter of quality control. You can hide a lot of defects with a good coat of paint, leather, or fabric. Rust, cracks, and other things.