Page:A record of European armour and arms through seven centuries (Volume 1).djvu/347



Latter part of XIIIth century

From a Chertsey tile

End of XIIIth century. Size of the original. Collection: Author

It shows a barrel-shaped head-piece, of proportions with which we are acquainted, but of which no genuine existing example is known to us. The ocularia are represented as though immediately opposite the eyes. Below these, on either side, are circular holes, pierced as spiracula. This model helm is still flat at the top, and fails to show the conical development at that point which is necessarily seen in the helm of slightly later date, which was made to fit over the bascinet helmet. Its base in front still inclines inwards, a feature which disappears when the spreading camail has to be covered; but in all other respects the form is not unlike that of the helm of the opening years of the next century. Since the discovery of this fragment of pottery, a second example, dating, like it, within the early years of the XIVth century, has come under the notice of the present writer. It consists in a head and part of a body clad in mail, probably from an aquamanile, and was found on the site of Barclay's Brewery, Southwark. It will be noticed in the case of this example (Fig. 319), which is the property of Messrs. Barclay, Perkins and Co., that the rendering of the helm is somewhat more fantastic, and therefore less satisfactory than that of the Westminster model. We regret that we are unable to supply an illustration of the