Valsgärde 5 helm with chain mail aventail

Product description

This helm is inspired by the richly decorated helmets from the ship graves of Valsgärde, near Uppsala in Sweden - one of the most important burial grounds from the Norse Iron Age. About eighty graves have been found at this site, dating from approximately the 5th to the 11th century, with the richly equipped ship graves from the Vendel and Viking periods as the highlight. The earliest of these contained exceptionally fine helmets, decorated with bronze, gold and garnet.

This reproduction is executed in steel with pressed metal foils and brass fittings, decorated with interlaced Norse ornaments and stylized animal and interlace motifs. The original specimen had metal strips for neck protection; in this replica, a chain mail aventail is used instead, made from darkened, unrivetted steel rings with a diameter of 8 mm. Inside, an adjustable leather insert ensures a good fit, secured with a leather chin strap.

The finds from Valsgärde show strong cultural connections between Scandinavia and the Anglo-Saxon world, with striking similarities to Sutton Hoo in England. This helmet is suitable for re-enactment and living history, for those who want to display the appearance of a high-ranking Vendel or Viking warrior.