English lobster-pot helmet

The ‘Lobster tail pot’ helmet or also known as ‘Arqebuisier pot‘ or in Polish ‘Zischagge‘ is a type of armour which came in use in the late 16th century. It was derived from the Turkish ‘çiçak‘ helmet known for its movable neck and nasal protection. The German and Dutch type of the helmet were commonly made of a single skull piece with attached riveted neck plates, ear flaps and an adjustable nasal guard.

The Polish version was often the most Ottoman influenced including decorative panels and often brass rivets. Some where decorated with ornamental wings as they were used by the famous ‘Winged Hussars‘.

The English version was mostly used and produced during the first half of the 17th century and is mostly known from the English civil war period (1642-1651). In contrary to its German and Dutch counterpart, the English lobster tail pot consists of a two piece skull which was often provided with a comb. The English used a three bar face protection instead of the single nasal guard.

The latter is listed here;
A fine and heavy English example with a skull made of two pieces, a movable three piece visor and a neckpiece which was made of a single piece decorated in the lobster form. The skull is marked with two armourer marks, but faded and hardly readable to determine its exact maker. The inside was often blackened to prevent it from rust and original a linnen liner was placed inside.

Condition: Good, cleaned from dirt and rust. The top of the skull has two small cracks which have opened. The visor is movable and full functioning one small dent near the rivet on the bar. The inside is treated against rust. Both earflaps are missing, further fine.