Chainmail Coif with face plate?

[FergusFetz]

I came across an illustration in Osprey's English Medieval Knight 1200-1300depicting what looks like a chainmail coif with a face plate strapped on. The illustration is from Lives of Two Offas. Is this just artistic license or are there other examples of this type of armoring?

[Ernst]

http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/onlineex ... 07000.html

It's the only time I've seen it illustrated. Please note this illo was added to the manuscript around 1320, and is not one of the Matthew Paris originals.

[FergusFetz]

Thank you, but what do you think it represents? Most illustrations have some basis in the reality of the time.

[Ernst]

...depicting what looks like a chainmail coif with a face plate strapped on.

That's my read as well. The occularia seem to be composed of a series of holes, and the protruding tabs might be attachment points for laces. Perhaps a cervelliere was worn under the mail coif?

[FergusFetz]

Are there any instances where the mail would go over the helmet?

[Russ Mitchell]

I don't know of any that would go over the helmet but under the visor. The Hungarians sometimes "hide" their helmet under felt hats (as do the Cumans, etc), but this is ....something totally different.

[Ernst]

Are there any instances where the mail would go over the helmet?

I know it seems counter-intuitive to us, but consider images like this one from the Maciejowski Bible, where the hauberk's mail coif is thrown back, but a cervelliere is worn.
http://manuscriptminiatures.com/maciejowski-bible/960/

Perhaps he never used the mail coif, or perhaps he removed the cervelliere when putting on the mail. Then again, the mail coif might have been worn over the cervelliere. Manuscripts show a rounded profile of the mail coif in the late 13th and early 14th centuries which migh be accounted for by the use of a heavily padded coif beneath, but might indicate a cervelliere under the mail. I don't know how you can prove this short of some document saying, " then he pulled his mail coif over the cervelliere...".
http://manuscriptminiatures.com/psalter ... el-83/265/
http://effigiesandbrasses.com/monuments ... /original/

Sometimes effigies have a band in the face opening inside the mail, but is this cloth or steel?
http://effigiesandbrasses.com/monuments ... /original/