Helmet
MakerMade by
Unknown
Dateabout 1800-1810
MediumMolded leather with gilt and painted ornamentation, with a leather visor and (fragmentary) leather sweatband, a red velvet band, a gilt and embossed leather cockade, a leather front plate with gilt ornamentation, and a tinned sheet metal comb with gilt and painted ornamentation
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (overall height): 11 1/2in. (29.2cm)
ClassificationsCostume
Credit LineThe Newman S. Hungerford Museum Fund
Object number2003.7.4
DescriptionConnecticut Governor's Horse Guard helmet, made of leather that was molded over a block then decorated with gilding. The gilding is probably gold leaf, because there is only evidence of brush marks on the edges. The helmet is unlined, but there are fragmentary remains of a thin, black, leather sweatband on the inside of the crown. Additionally, paper fragments glued to the inside of crown may be evidence of a paper maker's label that was once there.
Attached to the lower front edge of the helmet is a crescent shaped leather visor which slopes downward at an angle away from the crown of the helmet. The visor is embellished on its upper surface with a 3/4-inch-wide gilt band, which extends from the right edges to the left edge of the visor, with a border of 1/8-inch-diameter gilt dots along its inside curved edge. Wrapped around the base of the crown is a 1 1/2-inch-wide band of red velvet. On the proper left side of the crown is a black, leather cockade with gilt embossing, fastened to the crown with a 1/2-inch-diameter, plain, flat brass button. The leather cockade is embossed with gilt radiating spokes around a gilt wreath, above which is a gilt standing eagle.
The crown of the helmet is surmounted by a tinned, sheet metal comb, which has gilt and black painted ornamentation. The metal comb is sewn into the seam which joins the hemispheres of the helmet crown; it is attached with long, looping stitches of linen thread. The comb is embellished with black painted edging and six black, painted, serpentine curves, extending from the top to bottom of the comb, and arranged from front to back along the comb. The comb has a curved top surface that terminates at the front of the helmet in a comma-shaped lip. Each side of the crown is embellished with a gilt, curved panel, one inch wide by eight inches long, which is edged with 1/8-inch-diameter gilt dots. Below the middle of the curved panel on the proper right side is a 1 3/4-inch-high, gilt, six-pointed star. Along the base of the crown on each side are five three-inch-high, gilt triangles.
Attached to the center front of the helmet is a leather front plate, 6 1/2 inches wide x four inches high, of a roughly triangular shape with a rounded top point. The plate is embellished with a gilt eagle, with its head down, grasping a gilt scroll in its beak. Above the eagle is a field of eight eight-pointed gilt stars between the eagle's wings. At the top of the plate are two crossed sabers, with the grips uppermost. The crossed sabers identify this helmet with cavalry, specifically, the Governor's Horse Guard.
Attached to the lower front edge of the helmet is a crescent shaped leather visor which slopes downward at an angle away from the crown of the helmet. The visor is embellished on its upper surface with a 3/4-inch-wide gilt band, which extends from the right edges to the left edge of the visor, with a border of 1/8-inch-diameter gilt dots along its inside curved edge. Wrapped around the base of the crown is a 1 1/2-inch-wide band of red velvet. On the proper left side of the crown is a black, leather cockade with gilt embossing, fastened to the crown with a 1/2-inch-diameter, plain, flat brass button. The leather cockade is embossed with gilt radiating spokes around a gilt wreath, above which is a gilt standing eagle.
The crown of the helmet is surmounted by a tinned, sheet metal comb, which has gilt and black painted ornamentation. The metal comb is sewn into the seam which joins the hemispheres of the helmet crown; it is attached with long, looping stitches of linen thread. The comb is embellished with black painted edging and six black, painted, serpentine curves, extending from the top to bottom of the comb, and arranged from front to back along the comb. The comb has a curved top surface that terminates at the front of the helmet in a comma-shaped lip. Each side of the crown is embellished with a gilt, curved panel, one inch wide by eight inches long, which is edged with 1/8-inch-diameter gilt dots. Below the middle of the curved panel on the proper right side is a 1 3/4-inch-high, gilt, six-pointed star. Along the base of the crown on each side are five three-inch-high, gilt triangles.
Attached to the center front of the helmet is a leather front plate, 6 1/2 inches wide x four inches high, of a roughly triangular shape with a rounded top point. The plate is embellished with a gilt eagle, with its head down, grasping a gilt scroll in its beak. Above the eagle is a field of eight eight-pointed gilt stars between the eagle's wings. At the top of the plate are two crossed sabers, with the grips uppermost. The crossed sabers identify this helmet with cavalry, specifically, the Governor's Horse Guard.
Status
Not on view
