A HELMET FROM A FUNERARY ACHIEVEMENT

Raf · 3rd November 2015, 08:33 PM

I have one similar to Cerjaks but put together in a more naive way. It was described by Bonham's as a reproduction of a funery helmet in a seventeenth century style . Which seemed a little odd since it also incorporates bits of a genuine helmet and there is nothing about it that suggests it isn't seventeenth century. On a recent visit to Cotehele in Cornwall, I found a virtually identical helmet which was described as an undertakers funery helmet which seemed to me to make sense. By the beginning of the seventeenth century the funery achievement had moved down market and the implication is that undertakers provided or perhaps hired out rather crudely made helmets as part of the funery trappings , but not necessarily for permanent display in a church.
Image 1 is the Cotehele helmet and 2 and 3 our version.

CSinTX · 19th February 2019, 08:23 PM

What was the purpose of the central spike?

Jim McDougall · 20th February 2019, 04:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CSinTX

What was the purpose of the central spike?

Very good question!
The subject of medieval helmets used in funerary situations has brought up many questions concerning the curious fixtures and additions to armor and particularly helmets. As these types of armor and helmets were later used to adorn the tombs of figures of rank and title in the tradition of early use of actual armor......they were made often with features to accommodate their display.
In the case of the spike, I believe these were to mount the family coat of arms (or charges as seen in post #5). Naturally not all displays were the same, so many helmets are without it.

fernando · 20th February 2019, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CSinTX

What was the purpose of the central spike?

That would be for the attachment of an heraldic crest ... so it says IN HERE., for one.

Jim McDougall · 20th February 2019, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fernando

That would be for the attachment of an heraldic crest ... so it says IN HERE., for one.

Good call!! I should have said heraldic crest instead of coat of arms!!!
It sounds gooder.

fernando · 21st February 2019, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim McDougall

Good call!! I should have said heraldic crest instead of coat of arms!!!
It sounds gooder.

So i have doubled you, Jim.
As you started your reply to CSinTX with an aquiescing :

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim McDougall

Very good question! ...

I didn't notice that you haven't cracked the riddle in your last paragraph.

Jim McDougall · 21st February 2019, 06:47 PM

I didn't notice that you haven't cracked the riddle in your last paragraph.[/QUOTE]

These funerary armor elements really do pose riddles, as they become entangled with, or are presumed to be, actual pieces of medieval armor.
I recall one case where there were odd attachments on the back of one which were theorized to be for preventing the helm from becoming detached or some such. Turned out to be mounting attachments for display.

3rd November 2015, 08:33 PM	#1
Raf Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Posts: 252	I have one similar to Cerjaks but put together in a more naive way. It was described by Bonham's as a reproduction of a funery helmet in a seventeenth century style . Which seemed a little odd since it also incorporates bits of a genuine helmet and there is nothing about it that suggests it isn't seventeenth century. On a recent visit to Cotehele in Cornwall, I found a virtually identical helmet which was described as an undertakers funery helmet which seemed to me to make sense. By the beginning of the seventeenth century the funery achievement had moved down market and the implication is that undertakers provided or perhaps hired out rather crudely made helmets as part of the funery trappings , but not necessarily for permanent display in a church. Image 1 is the Cotehele helmet and 2 and 3 our version. Attached Images Last edited by Raf; 4th November 2015 at 03:38 PM.

19th February 2019, 08:23 PM	#2
CSinTX Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Posts: 233	What was the purpose of the central spike?

21st February 2019, 06:47 PM	#7
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,352	I didn't notice that you haven't cracked the riddle in your last paragraph.[/QUOTE] These funerary armor elements really do pose riddles, as they become entangled with, or are presumed to be, actual pieces of medieval armor. I recall one case where there were odd attachments on the back of one which were theorized to be for preventing the helm from becoming detached or some such. Turned out to be mounting attachments for display.