Viking Spectacle Helmet with aventail

This Viking Age spectacle helmet is crafted from 1.2 mm steel. It consists of a blackened, domed helmet bowl, a brow-band running round the bowl's edge, two intersecting strips or bands (in German so-called Spangen) running respectively from front to back and from ear to ear, and a spectacle guard (a protective face plate resembling eyeglasses / spectacles) with nasal protection. The component parts are all connected by steel rivets and the gaps between the steel bands are filled with Y-shaped brass plates or segments fixed onto the bowl with brass rivets. The strips and the eye/face protection are adorned with a Celtic-style knotwork or interlace pattern.

The interior is blackened and fitted with an adjustable leather suspension liner attached with rivets. The 2 mm thick black leather chin strap closes with a steel buckle.

The helmet features a shoulder-length chainmail aventail or camail that protects the neck, throat and lower facial part. The mail weave is composed of butted (unriveted) steel rings with an inner diameter of approx. 9 mm. The aventail is attached to the helmet by means of a sturdy iron wire that runs all the way round the helmet. The threading loops holding the wire in place are fastened to the lower edge of the bowl and spectacles with rivets.

The spangenhelm was the predominant helmet type of the early European Middle Ages. However, the helmet we offer here is not an authentic reproduction of an original historical example, but rather a free interpretation of the early medieval or Germanic nasal helmets, spangenhelms / cross-band helmets and spectacle helmets from the Vendel Period and Viking Age.

This fine, fully wearable Fantasy helmet of various inspirations (Scandinavian, Anglo-Saxon, Norman, etc.) is an ideal accessory for LARP, Fantasy, fancy dress, stage or TV/film and will make your transformation into a proud Norse warrior just perfect. Of course, it will also make a great, decorative addition to any helmet collector's treasure chamber.