SOLID-FORGED OIRAT HELMET FROM THE COLLECTION OF AKMOLA REGIONAL HISTORICAL MUSEUM

Abstract

The article studies the iron helmet under inventory number GIK-228, stored in Akmola regional historical museum (AOIKM, Kokshetau, Kazakhstan). The purpose of this article is to provide a detailed description of the helmet’s construction and design, as well to define its age and attribution. By its material, the helmet is classified as an iron helmet, by its construction it is solid-forged and by its shape it is spherocylindrical. As a result of the analysis of the construction and design features of the AOIKM helmet we can consider that it belongs to XVII-mid of XVIII centuries. Most probably it has been forged in the second half of this period for a wealthy Oirat (presumably Djungar) Buddhist warrior. This assumption is made based on the helmet’s construction, considering that its top is shaped like a Buddhist ritual vessel. The AOIKM helmet might have been forged either by local Djungarian armorers or in one of craft centers in Transoxiana (or Mawarannahr) where gunsmiths were massively preparing armor for Djungars under supervision of Oirat masters. Numerous helmets of similar design decorated with Buddhist symbolsare kept in museums and private collections in Kazakhstan, Russia, Mongolia and China.