A 'FROG-MOUTHED' JOUSTING HELM IN 15TH CENTURY ENGLISH STYLE, 19TH CENTURY formed of a low medially-ridged crown-plate sloping forward to the upper edge of a broad V-shaped vision-slit, projecting downwards at its rear as a narrow 'tail-piece', and fitted at its apex with an oval reinforcing-plate and vertical spike for the attachment of a funerary crest, a front plate sloping forward to the inward-turned lower edge of the vision-slit, and a pair of rear plates disposed to either side of the 'tail-piece', the plates joined by round-headed rivets, the lower edge of the helm flanged outwards and pierced with pairs of stitch-holes for the attachment of a lining (extensively corroded and patched, and painted black overall) Inv. no. A063. The helmet appears to have been inspired by a distinctive group of jousting helms of the first half of the 15th century preserved as parts of funerary achievements in English churches. See J. G. Mann 1933, pp. 152-4, and T. Richardson 1996, pp. 68-72). These include an example now in the Wallace Collection, London, Cat. No. A186, well known to amateurs d'armes from the early 19th century when it formed a part of the collection of Sir Samuel Rush Meyrick of Goodrich Court, Herefordshire. The helm catalogued here is likely to have been made to the order of the celebrated 19th century arms dealer Samuel Luke Pratt of Bond Street, London who was the chief provider of both genuine and fake armour to English collectors at the time of the Gothic Revival. See G. F. Laking 1922, pp. 13-30, and Karen N. Watts.