Peter, if you can post a shot or two of the inside it might be helpfull as well. My initial impression of this piece is that it strikes me as looking similar to some of the Shriner and Oddfellow type fraternal helmets of the 19th century ( i've owner a few over the years more as a curiousity than anything else ). I have however never seen one with the open top and have no idea what purpose that might have served. It doesn't show an signs that I can detect in the pic that there was as you mention anything attached ( at least anything metal ) to cover it.
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