Tuesday 16 August 2016

Crusader Helm

This is Templar style helmet from the 3rd to 5th Crusades of around 1200 AD, flat topped with tapered sides, chain mail coif and nose guard but normally seen with a full face plate. 


Made by White Rose Armouries as bespoke piece, based on image in a Osprey Man at Arms series book, I think it was the Knights of Outremer, but no longer have the book to confirm that.


The image above is from Bolsover Castle and the one below from Warwick from the early 90's, during a period I did medieval style entertainment shows for the public, which skirted the edge of medieval authenticity.


I did have long hair and big beard back then.

I still have this helmet.


I even have a cartoon image created for me wearing the helment






Monday 8 August 2016

Bird Beak

This bycocket is made of lightweight felt and not stiff so folds flat.


The word Bycocket comes from the French word bec cocquet which means birds beak or cock's beak



Monday 1 August 2016

Cowboy Hat


This is a novelty cowboy hat picked up from a bring and buy, well used but fits the part


A basic felt hat with a pinched front, crushed crown, wide brim and leather band around the crown


Cowboy hats where not the most common hats worn in the wild west, derby or bowler hat where much more common and many hat style were worn, but as time past and the wild west became history the stetson or wide brimmed tall crown hat became the cowboy hat we think of today. 





Monday 25 July 2016

Kufi


This hat was picked up for £2 from Tewkesbury apparently a BBC drama prop, crushed at the bottom of a box it needs a bit of attention to bring it back to shape.


A Kufi hat is a traditional men's hat worn people in Africa or those of African heritage living in the US, the hat has no religious significance can be worn by Christian, Muslim or those who follow The Force.


Kufi hats are usually made of kente cloth, mudcloth, or knitted/crocheted and pill boxed shaped