A SAFAVID GOLD-DAMASCENED STEEL HELMET (KHULA KHUD)
PROPERTY FROM A PRIVATE WEST LONDON COLLECTOR
Safavid Iran, 17th century

Of typical hemispherical shape, surmounted by an applied, faceted, tapering finial reminiscent in shape of Safavid taj (baton) fitted in turbans, the front with three truncated openwork fittings in the shape of cusped arabesque palmettes, once used as plume holders but now missing, and a long noseguard with similar openwork arabesque terminals, above it a gold-damascened lobed medallion with a rubbed invocation, at the base of the finial and helmet two continuous epigraphic bands, now mostly rubbed, in-filled with fine gold-damascened nasta'liq calligraphy with invocations to 'Ali, the Shi'a saints, Muhammad and Allah, and further clusters of prayers, with its original shaped chainmail, 58.2cm high.