Helmet
early 17th century (made)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
This type of segmented Tibetan helmet, used originally with a coat of lamellar armour, was probably derived from the form of Sasanian Persian helmets of the 3rd century CE. During the later 14th to the 17th century Tibet was a disunited country where a number of regional secular rulers allied to religious orders vied for power and in which warfare was not uncommon. A sizeable armour production in Tibet was the result of this situation.
Object details
Category | |
Object type | |
Materials and techniques | Plate-metal armour; scale armour in steel or iron stitched with leather; padded cloth ear pieces |
Brief description | lamellar, Armour, leather steel, Tibet, anterior 17th century |
Physical description | Helmet of plate-armour, composed of eightcurved segments, overlapping, surmounted by the typical Tibetan spindle-shaped pike (to which the sacred colours of Lamaism - pieces of red, blue and yellow cloth - are attached). Attached are the short coif, or neck-piece, consisting of three rows of scale armour and ear-pieces of paddled cloth formely covered with leopard skin. |
Credit line | Purchased from the Baillie Gallery |
Object history | Purchased from the Baillie Gallery. This acquisition information reflects that found in the Museum records (Asia Department registers and/or Central Inventory) as part of a 2023 provenance research project. RP 1910- 2707M |
Summary | This type of segmented Tibetan helmet, used originally with a coat of lamellar armour, was probably derived from the form of Sasanian Persian helmets of the 3rd century CE. During the later 14th to the 17th century Tibet was a disunited country where a number of regional secular rulers allied to religious orders vied for power and in which warfare was not uncommon. A sizeable armour production in Tibet was the result of this situation. |
Collection | |
Accession number | IM.75-1910 |
About this object record
Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
Record created | November 8, 2005 |
Record URL |
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest