The Armour Archive

Hello.
How useful in the SCA, or to reenactors in general would a steel scullcap be? In the Maciejowski bible many people are shown with one either worn over or under a maille coif, or just worn without maille. Would this kind o' helm be useful in reenactment?
Here is are two examples of the scullcap:
Thanks,
Archie

Re-enactment? I'd say yes. That form of helmet lasts until modern times (consider WWII Brit or Polish paratrooper helmets) and pops up all over history. In my opinion is it vastly under-represented by re-enactors.

BTW I used to wear one in my impression of an English yeoman archer of Wars of the Roses era. I originally purchased it from Albion Swords; they called it a Cervelliere (sp?) but have since discontinued it AFAIK.

If by SCA you mean Heavy List Combat, I am unsure how they would be useful.

Cheers,
Tim

I have wanted a cervelle for some time. I'd love to have one under my straw or felt hat while marshaling.

They fulfil the requirements for head protection for "The Vikings" and for WOTR Federation events in Britain (especially for non-combatants such as banner and water bearers. They are normally worn as a concealed item under a hat but do turn up occasionally in their own right. I agree that they are under represented, but most of us just want a bit more protection than they offer.
Maredudd

I made one from old Civil Defense helmet... just cut off the brim. Fits me prefectly over a heavy arming cap or mail coif.

Tim, your spelling is perfectly good for writing it in English.

It being a French word, I use the diacritical character: Alt + 0232 gives me the needed accent grave to write it as cerveillière. Freely translated, the word means "brain thingy," and has nothing whatever to do with surveillance.

But seriously, SCAdians could use such a piece as fight-marshal's gear. These men are the closest to the action, excepting the fighters, and it's a good idea for these men to use head protection. They have to have their vision and hearing completely unobstructed if at all possible, to fulfill their function as safety officers, so an enclosed helmet or helm is not preferred for this job.

What you usually see for hardening SCA marshals' heads is something of the kettlehat persuasion -- usually a soup-plate helmet, and one that probably once was painted white and had a CD decal on its front, left over from WW2.