This armour has been entirely hand
forged using only period techniques and the highest quality materials
available. The helmet features a one-piece skull and the entire
armour is adorned using my source of superior 19th century brass.
I consider this armour as much a work of sculpture as it is a fully
articulated historical study.
This Polish Winged Hussar armour is of the type worn by the officers
of the Polish Cavalry in the early to mid 17th century… The
Husaria. This armour was fashioned using only four images supplied
by my client. It is certainly my most elaborate project to date.
I find it fascinating that in 1645 whilst my English relatives were
galloping across the fields of Naseby in plain blackened Ironside
armour. At the same time not 1000 miles away, the Polish were doing
exactly the same but with such different and elaborate protective
dress (understatement)! It was almost as if intimidating their enemy
with finery and decoration was as important as their skills with
sword and saddle.
This particular armour was commissioned by Captain
Andrzej B. Gawlik of the U.S. Marines, who is descended from a
long & noble Polish
line. Capt, Gawlik can document his family history to the time of
the Winged Hussars, and it was in the memory of his late father who
was also a collector of Polish militaria, that this piece was commissioned.
Before I had finished this piece my client was asked by The Imperial
War Museum London if he would loan it to them to head the ‘The
Animals War’ exhibition which runs until June 2007 in London,
and being a gentleman Capt Gawlik kindly agreed. But with the ‘closed
cabinet’ deadline at The Imperial War Museum approaching there
was already little time for me to complete the armour, when at the
eleventh hour, Grant Pearmain at FBFX telephoned me and asked if
he could have the armour too! Grant wanted to take a mould from the
armour to make 25 full sets of Polyurethane armour for the principal
actors in a big budget movie being filmed in Russia, and he needed
it yesterday.
Fortunately there were a week of evenings and a weekend for me
to sacrifice once I had the armour back from FBFX, and Capt Gawlik
who by now was resigned to the fact just about everyone was going
to get their hands on his armour before he did, once again went
with the spirit of the thing, and the armour for the movie 1612
was made… and
the deadline at the museum was met.
Thank you again to Captain Gawlik for having such faith in my
skills and for being such a great sport. Thank you to The Imperial
War Museum London for making such a great display of the armour,
and thank you to Grant and Andrew and the rest of the crew at FBFX
for the challenge.
The museum armour is shown bright polished, however, once the
Imperial War Museum exhibition is over and the armour is back in
my care, before finally sending it to my U.S client, I am going
to sympathetically age the whole piece. This way it will sit better
next to the period pieces in my clients collection as per my clients
request. My armourer’s
mark has been stamped in two places on this armour. This mark is
always my guarantee of a sound investment.
If you are interested in a suit of armour of your own, whether
it’s
Polish, English, French German or Italian, please do not hesitate
to contact me. In fact, anything at all can be recreated for you,
it’s all quite simply down to time, and therefore ultimately
your budget. All I need are a few clues re; period, style and finish
and whether the piece is for wear or display, and I will happily
do the rest, and trawl through my extensive library and provide images
of exactly what it is I think you are aiming for, and as the famous
quote by King Maximillian I to his armourer (below) clearly illustrates,
I am at your disposal.
Please feel free to contact me with any questions or requests
at all, whether it be for full size armour for wear or display,
a study in miniature, a single helmet, or all the kings men,
I welcome any challenge or restoration. Just click on
my contact page, and I will do the rest.
Click here for my contact page
Thank you for your interest, I look forward to our talking in the
future.
Nigel Carren
“It's a really magnificent piece of work
and a real coup to have it on display at such a terrific exhibition.
Well done”.
Dave Allen , Private collector
” I never expected the helmet to look so
original… it could have been made in 1645 and then bubble
wrapped until 2006, I can’t tell you how impressed I am!”
Matt Perry, Private collector
“It’s nice to see that craftsman still reside in the
UK instead of just importers. Your work is really very nice indeed.
Alistair at Madregal designs told me about your work and I felt
I had to congratulate you”.
Dave Hewitt , White Rose Armoury
“We should have 25 sets of the movie armour ready for next
week, which is something we wouldn’t have been able to do
without your help. Thank you again for loaning us your armour”.
Grant Pearmain, FBFX Ltd
Anything at all can be recreated, it’s all quite simply
down to time, and therefore ultimately your budget. All I need
are a few clues re; period, style and finish and whether the piece
is for wear or display, and I will happily do the rest, and trawl
through my extensive library and provide images of exactly what
it is I think you are aiming for, and as the famous quote by King
Maximillian I to his armourer (below) clearly illustrates, I am
at your disposal.
“Arm me according to my own wishes, for it is I not you
who will take part in the tournament!”
King Maximillian
I to court armourer Conrad Seusenhofer
1504
My method statement is best illustrated by a quote by the greatest
writer on the subject:
“For the study of ancient armour to be successfully pursued,
it is of primary importance that a careful examination be made
of every existing specimen within our reach… Every rivet-hole
and rivet in a piece must be studied, and its use and object thought
out”.
Charles Ffoulkes 1909
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