Close helmet reproduction - maker?

[Armadillo]

I just picked this up locally for a song. Does anyone recognize the mark? I've seen photos of quite similar helmets, the maker must have turned out many.
-Adair

[Armadillo]

This example from the Bonhams website appears identical.

[Mac]

I think I've seen pics of a couple of these in the past. They are pretty nice repros, but I don't know who made them. I have a sense that I knew something more in the past, but have forgotten...

Mac

[Armadillo]

I am pleasantly surprised at the craftsmanship and form. The seller said that he brought the helmet with him from the UK about 40 years ago.

I just found photos of another, though the collar lames are absent.

[Armadillo]

Here is the result of another random image search. Interesting to me is the stand shown with this one. The helmet I purchased has the very same stand.

In time someone is bound to recognize this. Who was making reproductions in the 1970's and 80's of this quality in the UK or on the continent? It's not Marto work.

Random speculation makes me wonder whether these were made in quantity for a museum gift shop. There are no hammer marks on the interior of the skull. The only hammer work is at the rolled and roped edges.

[Otto von Teich]

I have an example on a stand exactly like yours. I've seen them turn up on rare occasion. I saw one used as a presentation piece in the automotive industry in Detroit dated from the early 70's. I believe these were made for a museum gift shop in the 60's. It might have been for the tower of London? Maybe for Patrons who donated a certain amount of money? I doubt there were more than a couple of dozen made, but I really have no idea. Maybe someone at the tower or the RA at Leeds would recognize the mark? It might have to be an old timer as these are probably about 50- 60 years old +-. I asked the same question when I stumbled across mine. I never got any really firm answers but this was the general consensus.

[Armadillo]

Otto,
Thanks for filling me in with what you know. I'd be thrilled if this were tied to the Tower of London from before my lifetime. I'll try reaching out to the RA.
-Adair

[Otto von Teich]

Hey Adair, I sent you a couple of pics. On my notes I have written " Copy of a close helmet in the Royal Armouries at Leeds. The original Made at Greenwich by German Armourers" I'm not sure if thats 100% correct? I did try to research it at the time I bought mine.

[Otto von Teich]

I did a quick google search, and found a few Greenwich helmets with very similar overall form, similar piercings for the breaths and similar visor pivots. I "Think" thats how I came up with the likely Greenwich connection. Or....I might have read it from a auction catalog description for a similar hat at some point. hmmmmm Either way, after looking at some pics it seems very likely. Hope this helps.

[Armadillo]

Otto,
I received your photos, thank you very much. I have sent an email to the RA. I should probably try posting on some of the FB pages, but I'm stubborn, I like it here.
-A.

[Armadillo]

I received a response from the RA. There were no connections there to be discovered. I appreciate that they circulated my inquiry to many staff members.
-Adair

[Novice]

I have one of these as well! I am always on the lookout for another, they are finely made and hold especial sentimental value to me.
I believe I shared this story with you, Mac, although it has been five years on now! Also, hello again Mac, it's been damn near five years!

http://yorkshireferret.blogspot.com/201 ... -mask.html

This is the almost complete provenance and history of these helmets; it is a sad tale, for they are one of the earliest attempts to completely and faithfully recreate a piece of armor, for the consumption of the general public no less, and they did a damn good job to boot. (As did the local journalist who chronicled the story--I have found out some things not in the article, but only a few details not quite worth mentioning.)

Their work would go on to be used in many movies and prop studios, including the movie "A Knight's Tale," although that story is sadly lost to the ages; All I know is I once met a lady selling one of these with the visor taken off and another one, plainly from a crappy Marto helmet, frankensteined on, and she said that was the original provenance of it, and the papers saying as much were lost to time (and water damage).
This bastard version is (thankfully) not my helmet, but I have pictured it below.

[Armadillo]

Well I'll be darned, that is a heck of a story. I am thrilled to know the background of this piece and proud to be the new owner. It's amazing what information can be tracked down. Thank you for sharing that information.
-Adair

[Otto von Teich]

Thanks Novice! That's great news. You finally cleared up a bit of the mystery! It makes me wonder if he made copies of anything else after reading the letter. I wonder how long they were in production. From 1975- ?

[Marshal]

I'm surprised that a museum would lend out an artifact to random people so they could reproduce it.