lower edge of the helmet. Of what material these helmets were made is a matter of speculation. It may be assumed that in the majority of cases the skull-piece was of copper, as it was an easily worked metal, and if reinforced with bands sufficiently strong, could be made thoroughly useful. That the helmets were also fashioned of iron we have assurance from other specimens we illustrate.
An image should appear at this position in the text. To use the entire page scan as a placeholder, edit this page and replace "{{missing image}}" with "{{raw image|A record of European armour and arms through seven centuries (Volume 1).djvu/118}}". Otherwise, if you are able to provide the image then please do so. For guidance, see Wikisource:Image guidelines and Help:Adding images. |  |
Fig. 53. From the Bayeux needlework
Ninth representation of Duke William and third representation of his attendant, both in conical segmented helmets with nasal guards
The present writer is acquainted with only sixteen conical helmets extant, but only six of these we can safely assign to Norman times.
The first helmet is of copper, now in the Musée d'Artillerie of Paris H 1 (Fig. 54), to which Museum it was presented by M. Boucher de Perthes. The whole helmet is forged out of one piece, conical in form, and truncated at the top, pierced about one inch from the apex, with a Russian cross and three holes. The simplicity of its form, together with the apparent absence of any means of attaching the lining, and the presence of three holes (probably rivet holes) would seem to suggest that parts of the helmet are missing; the missing parts were probably bands of bronze or iron; if these could be added, such a helmet as we see in the Bayeux needlework would be the result. The pierced cross might be for ventilation, and the three holes would be for the purpose of attaching the metal bands. It was found in the river Somme, near Abbeville, France. It is in all probability of the XIth century.
The second helmet is of iron; it is preserved in the chapel of St. Wenceslaus, of the cathedral of Prague, where it is attributed to St. Wences-
