Europe, England, Civil War Period, ca. 1642 to 1651 CE. An iron helmet of the style known as "lobster tail" or "zischagge" (when used on the Continent), a type of head protection used by cavalry in the Thirty Years War (1618 to 1648) and, as this example, in the English Civil War. The helmet consists of a hemispherical bowl to cover the top of the head, a visor, and a long, laminated "lobster tail" to protect the neck. This example has fine large iron rivets holding the separate pieces together, and shows evidence of having been blackened on its round surface in an attempt to weatherproof it against rust - a real concern in the English weather! The lamination of the tail can be clearly seen from inside the helmet. The style was inspired by the "chichak" of the Ottoman Turks, worn by them in the late 16th century (and the German name for it is derived from the Turkish). Comes with custom stand. Size: 13" L x 8" W x 9" H (33 cm x 20.3 cm x 22.9 cm); height on stand: 19" (48.3 cm)

During the English Civil War, this type of helmet was known as a "horseman's pot" or a "three-barred pot"; "lobster tail" is a later name for it. The cavalry at the time, called harquebusiers (because they carried a carbine called a harquebus), wore these helmets along with a breastplate and a backplate. It was worn by cavalrymen on both sides of the war, the Roundheads (Cromwell's Ironside cavalry) and the Cavaliers (supporters of King Charles I). There is an order signed by Charles from 1642 asking for "thirty-three potts" to be used by his own troop of horses. These helmets doubtless found their ways into the various petty conflicts on the European continent following the end of the Civil War, when many of Cromwell's soldiers became mercenaries for hire.

Provenance: private Czech collection acquired before 1980

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#123616

Patina over surface. Losses and corrosion to iron, especially on lower side of back protection and on the right (facing) side of the helmet. Does not have cheekpieces.