Ornate helmets worn in battle by Persian Empire soldiers will go on display in Hull next month.
Exploring Islamic Art: helmets will be on show at Hull and East Riding Museum from Monday 10 February to Sunday 29 March.
The collection consists of two “kulah khud” helmets worn by Persian Empire soldiers in the 18th or 19th century.
Kulah khud are bowl shaped helmets with an “aventail” chainmail neck covering, spike at the top, adjustable nose guard and plume holders for feathers.
Exploring Islamic Art: helmets will go on display at Hull and East Riding Museum next month.
One of the highly decorative helmets represents the head of a demon who was defeated by a hero. This story is told in the Iranian national epic poem called the Shahnameh.
Another is decorated with people hunting deer and lions. They are using a variety of weapons including a shamshir, a Middle Eastern curved sword.
Councillor Marjorie Brabazon, chair of Hull Culture and Leisure, said: “These helmets are wonderful examples of Iranian and Middle Eastern heritage. They take inspiration from the past to create something both beautiful and functional that we can appreciate and enjoy.”
‘Hump day’? More like ‘rocking the research day’!
Lots of research and prep happening for our upcoming display ‘Exploring Islamic Art: helmets’ (starts 10/02).
We have 2 Persian kulah khud in our collection at Hull and East Riding Museum, they date to the 19th century and we 😍 pic.twitter.com/QRDli0FwYo
— Hull Museums (@Hull_Museums) January 15, 2020
It is the first of two exhibitions looking at Islamic art at the museum. Exploring Islamic Art: ceramics, featuring pottery objects from the Middle East, will be on show from Monday 11 May to Sunday 28 June.
