‘Big’ Oirat Spherocylindrical Helmet in the Tobolsk Historical and Architectural Museum-Reserve Depositary
Abstract
The article studies the helmet under inventory number ВО-171, stored in the Tobolsk Historical and Architectural Museum-Reserve (THAMR) depositary. Previously, the helmet attracted the attention of scientists; however it has never been the object of an independent scientific study. The key objectives is to provide a description of the construction and design of the helmet, clarify its dating and attribution, reconstruct its potential original appearance. The helmet was obtained from Siberian Tatars in 1910. The name of the donator is not specified. Presumably, the helmet was donated to Tobolsk Provincial Museum by the descendants of an authoritative Tatar dynasty — the Kulmametievs. The Kulmametievs have been the donators of other Siberian and Central Asian helmets, stored in Tobolsk Museum-Reserve depositary, in 1908–1910. It has been established that the helmet is part of the Oirat spherocylindrical grouping (‘jug-shaped’, ‘vase-shaped’) of helmets of the late Middle Ages and early Modern Period. It is likely that the craftsmen who made such helmets were inspired by the Buddhist stupa (in Kalmyk ‘suburgan’). Based on the construction and design features (including the presence of Buddhist symbols on the crown) it is possible that the helmet was forged by Oirat or South Siberian gunsmiths for a wealthy Oirat Buddhist warrior in the 1610’s — 1680’s. Originally the helmet was equipped with a three-part platelike aventail, that is currently connected to the helmet of Siberian Tatars (inventory number: ВО-70). A comprehensive analysis of the sources made it possible to reconstruct the likely initial appearance of the helmet. The helmet under inventory number ВО-171 presents a striking example of the 17th century Oirat helmets. It could be obtained by Siberian Tatars as war booty, political present or trade exchange. The history of the helmet is a vivid example of interaction between Mongolian- and Turkic-speaking population of Central Asia and Western Siberia during the period of ‘Minor Mongolian (Oirat) invasion’ in the 17th — the middle of the 18th centuries.
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