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View Full Version : Fake 17th century Polish helmet zischagge ?


Cerjak
15th February 2017, 06:18 PM
This helmet has been circulating among auction houses and eBay in recent months , I have more than big doubts about his authenticity and would like opinion from other members . ( pictures from the 2 differents examplars )

Auction house description;
A scarce 17th century Polish helmet zischagge, the skull constructed of a headband and 11 plates, scalloped along the lower edges, and tapering up to the 2 superimposed octagonal top plates with short square section spike, peak with reinforced front edge, and neck guard of 4 plates with reinforced outer edges, secured by prominent round headed rivets overall (2 replaced). GC with a pleasing dark age patina. Plate 12

Best

Cerjak

Philip
17th February 2017, 07:42 AM
I've seen a lot of Polish hussar armor in museums (on display and in depots) during several visits to Central and Eastern Europe, and this style is new to me.
Major questionable elements that just don't fit the norm:
1. Assembly from overlapping, radial plates.
2. Lack of a nasal guard.
3. The finial which takes the form of a four-sided spike which looks like someone's interpretation of what's on top of a Persian kulah-khud. Finials on Polish hussar helmets take the shape of small pear-shaped knobs.
4. Visor which slants downward from where it joins the helmet shell. It ought to project horizontally.
5. The profile of the helmet's shell or bowl is higher than any other example I've seen either in person or in publication. Something about its proportions just seem "off".

Cerjak
17th February 2017, 09:58 AM
Exact Philip ,me too I have nerver seen in book or museum such helmet ,this helmet seems to be born from the imagination of a smith who wants to make a mix from Persian and zischagge helmet.
This type of helmet is offered for 1900 € to 4000 € in the market !
Best
Cerjak

A Senefelder
24th February 2017, 11:00 AM
A similar example from a thread here 4 years back http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=15196 ive been seeing this type as far back as the old Museum of Historical Arms catalogs from the 60's.

Jim McDougall
25th February 2017, 01:29 AM
A similar example from a thread here 4 years back http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=15196 ive been seeing this type as far back as the old Museum of Historical Arms catalogs from the 60's.

Yikes Alan !! We're dating ourselves! The Hoffman brothers in Florida,
Those little paperback catalogs are now a sort of classic, and I always remember the covers being a different color each issue. Ive even found small groups of them in old/rare book stores.