Made of leather, fox fur and cold cast metal
Some of the options available in the kit are illustrated in these photos. The first one has antiqued gold horns, buttons and medallion; the second has antiqued silver. The first has a basketweave pattern burned into the crown pieces; the second has a raised serpentine design. The first has the leather pieces antiqued brown; the second was dyed red, then antiqued black. All leather pieces come undyed and you color them however you like.
This ceremonial viking helmet is made of the finest materials. The horns, medallion and decorative buttons are all cold cast bronze (antiqued gold) or cold cast aluminum (antiqued silver). The horns are engraved with a runic dragon. The decorative buttons are shaped like traditional round viking shields with the reinforcing ribs and center boss. The medallion is framed by a piece of fox fur.
What is cold cast? Cold cast—as opposed to hot cast—is when finely ground metal powder is cast into a mold with resin as a binding agent. Hot cast, on the other hand, is where the metal is heated to where it melts before being poured into a mold. The cold cast is less expensive to make, is lighter in weight and has a lower percentage of metal. It can still be polished in a manner similar to hot cast metals.
The leather pieces are all made of premium grade top grain vegetable tanned cowhide, in a 5-6 oz. weight. The crown pieces are either lightly burned with a basketweave pattern or come plain with molds and instructions on wet-forming the raised serpentine design.
This quality helm is not just a show piece. It is intended to be worn. The horns—for instance—are hollow. The black and silver helm pictured weighs just about one lb (452 gms). The brown one weighs a bit more, due to bronze being heavier than aluminum. Consequently one could wear one of these comfortably for hours at a time.
The kit includes all of the leather pattern pieces cut out of top grain vegetable tanned cowhide, along with the stiching slots. The pattern consists of four crown pieces, five strap pieces, and two horn bases with lace. Also included is a sweatband and adjustable leather webbing, along with other leather structural parts that aren't seen in the finished helm. One nice thing about the pattern for this helm is that it assumes a smooth shape without the need for a hat form.
You will receive two metal horns, one medallion, and twenty three shield buttons, plus the circle of fox fur. You will also be provided with assembly instructions, including detailed notes on how to make the four part edge lace around the horns. Should you run into any problems you can email me for assistance.
Some of the leather parts and all of the cold cast metal parts in the kit. The crown pieces as shown have already been molded with the serpentine design. If you choose this style you will receive them flat, with molds and instructions on doing the molding yourself. The cold cast pieces shown are the antiqued silver as you will receive them, prior to polishing. The cold cast bronze parts arrive in a tan color before polishing.
You will need to provide waxed thread and needle, leather dye and antiquing, 180 grit sandpaper and polishing wheels and compound for polishing the metal parts, Barge® cement or other contact cement for assembling the sweatband and webbing. You will also need to have needlenose pliers, a small awl, scissors for cutting leather, a small paintbrush, a rotary hole punch and a block of wood. Also recommended are several small spring clamps, lacing needle, stitching fid, clamping forceps, and satin or other fabric for making a lining. Most of these are available at a hardware store or a leather shop such as Tandy Leather.
Although much has been done for you, there is still plenty to do. In addition to handstitching the entire helm together, you will need to stain and antique the leather parts, polish up the cold cast metal parts, and braid the horn base trim. This kit is not intended for the novice. It is designed for someone with leatherworking experience, and basic knowledge and possession of using tools such as an electric drill, pliers, Xacto knife, etc.
An antiqued silver horn before and after polishing
You have a choice of antiqued gold (cold cast bronze) or antiqued silver (cold cast aluminum) for the horns, medallion and buttons.
You also have a choice on the four crown parts of a burnt basketweave pattern, a molded serpentine design, or plain. The basketweave pattern will come already done. If you choose the serpentine you will receive plain leather and two acrylic molds into which you will press the cased leather. The plain undecorated leather can be left as is, or tooled or painted in any manner you like.
And you have a choice of sizes. The sweatband comes with an adjustable webbing, that allows different sized heads to wear it. I am offering the kits in Large (which also accomodates medium), and XX-Large (which also accomodates x-large). Should you plan on wearing it over a wig you will need a larger size than otherwise worn.
The Sigurd helm kit costs $150.00 plus shipping by UPS. I have never before offered for sale anything like this, nor any leather kit at all. I am trying to gauge the interest in this kit and others to determine if I should continue making these. Feel free to email me with any comments.
See more pictures of the SIGURD HELM.
I am considering offering some of the other helmets pictured on this website in kit form. Much like the Sigurd helm they would consist of precut leather pieces, cast resin parts, horsehair, etc., plus complete instructions on how to assemble. If you might be interested in purchasing such a kit, please write me with the word "helmet" in the subject line, and let me know which helmet or helmets you would be interested in. There is no commitment to buy at this time. I am just trying to gauge whether or not there is sufficient interest for me to pursue this.
How I made the Rus Viking helm |
How to make an American Dragoon helmet |
Making a British Dragoon helmet |
How to make faux ivory buttons |
Leather Helmets |
The Sigurd Viking helm kit
You can email me here.
Home | Ambigrams | Ambigramautomata | Paintings | Graphics | Garden Art | Resin Paintings | Batiks | Sculpture | Cut Paper | Costumes | Wood Carvings | Fused Glass
© Tom Banwell 2007-2008