Gallery Title
Gallery Title
Afghan Helmet (Brass)
Accession Number NWHRM : 1471.1
Description
Brass Afghan helmet (kulah khud) , dated around 1880, collected by the Regiment during the Second Afghan War. A peak protects the soldier's brow and it has a neckguard at the back. The top mount is a decoration resembling a bomb-burst which gives the impression of increased height of the soldier and deflects a direct downward blow. It may well have held a plume, and at each side is a finely modelled lion's head which would hold a loop for the chinstrap, which is missing in this example.
Read MoreAfghan Helmet (Brass)
This helmet copies Euopean heavy cavalry helments worn throughout most of the 19th century and still used today with ceremonial dress as worn, for example, by the British Household Cavalry. The leaf decoration could be European, but the badge in the centre front contains Afghan script.
