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Multiplate Helmet of Forty-two Lames
Possibly Tibetan, Mongolian, or Chinese, 15th century
Iron, gold, silver, brass or copper alloy, leather
H. 10 1/8 in. (25.7 cm)
Royal Armouries Museum, Leeds
cat. no. 11

This helmet is distinguished by the cusped edge and central ridge of its lames and by the decoration of its plume finial and brim, which are damascened in gold and silver with motifs including a flaming sword of wisdom (center of the brim), and repeating tight concentric spirals. The spiral pattern also occurs on other objects in the exhibition, some of which have been attributed to both China and Tibet: two swords (cat. nos. 55, 56), a saddle (cat. no. 111), a stirrup (cat. no. 129), a group of harness fittings (cat. no. 133), and two bridles (cat. nos. 134, 135). The proportions of the helmet bowl are small enough to suggest that it was made for a child or a very young man.

all text & images © Metropolitan Museum of Art


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