Historic European Armour Reproductions
Like most people who have tried to build a collection of genuine armour from scratch, and found it almost impossible, we are forced to look to the reproduction market. As a collector myself, I noticed that some of the replicas I was buying were ok at a glance, but there was always something off. Visible welds, different shapes to the helmets – just something wrong about the whole thing, really. Thankfully, I already had the tools to begin making my own reproductions that were much more faithful to the genuine pieces. Since then, I have been relishing in the opportunity to produce high standard pieces for my clients.
A Reproduction Armour Story
Polish Winged Hussar Armour
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 the then Captain Andrzej B. Gawlik of the U.S. Marines, who is descended from a long and 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 client’s collection as per my client’s request. My armourer’s mark has been stamped in two places on this armour. This mark is always my guarantee of a sound investment.
“Nigel Carren is a Master Armourer (master spelled with a capital M), his attention to detail and willingness to listen to his customer no matter how annoying is without a doubt a key element to his skill and success. When The Imperial War Museum London asked to display this armour for a year… how could I say no, it was my small way of telling Nigel he had done a magnificent job.”
~ Major Andrzej B.Gawlik, US Marines
Reproduction Armour Gallery
A 001 86 Lb Siege-Weight Cuirassier armour right side.
A 002 86 Lb Siege-Weight Cuirassier armour left side
A 003 Cuirassier armour Tasset and Couter detail
A 004 Cuirassier helmet with interchangeable siege visor
A 005 Cuirassier helmet with interchangeable parade visor
A 006 Cuirassier armour rear showing Culet
B 001 Fluted Prussian cavalry helmet 1650-75
B 002 Fluted Prussian cavalry helmet rear showing pierced plume-holder
B 003 Fluted Prussian cavalry helmet front
B 004 Fluted Prussian cavalry helmet top
B 005 Blacking a Prussian cavalry helmet cheekpiece in charcoal and oil
B 006 Fluted Prussian cavalry helmet padded adjustable deerskin lining
C 001 Bright- Polished 3-Bar pot helmet with pierced cheekpieces
D 001 Field-Worn 3-Bar pot helmet with deerskin lining
E 001 Nigel Carren Lobster tail helmet with articulated neck, sliding nasal bar and deerskin lining
E 002 Nigel Carren lobster tail helmet rear showing plumeholder and suspension loop
E 003 Nigel Carren lobster tail helmet side showing incised line detail
E 004 Nigel Carren lobster tail helmet showing sliding nasal- bar lock detail
E 005 Nigel Carren lobster tail helmet interior showing hand-stitched adjustable deerskin lining
F 001 French light cavalry close-helmet side
F 002 French light cavalry close-helmet showing optional embossed Gorget and rivet detail
G 001 Graz light cavalry gauntlets with unique wrist articulation
G 002 Graz light cavalry gauntlets showing unique hidden lame wrist articulation developed for loading a weapon
H 001 Renowned author and historian Martin Marix Evans modelling my Boulter 3-bar pot helmet for osprey publishing
H 002 Nigel carren 3-Bar pot helmet being photographed for Osprey Naseby book
J 001 Officers head and neck piece copied from a 17th century German woodcut
K 001 17th century Savoyard often called the 'Bug eyed' Savoyard owing to it's insect like appearance
K 002 Savoyard helmet shown with a lifted fall revealing visor with large Occularia
L 001 Dressing Polish Winged Hussar armour for the Imperial War Museum London. I made this armour for a US client
L 002 Polish Winged Hussar armour showing all 86 hand painted eagle feathers
L 003 Polish Winged Hussar armour showing brass detail. Victorian brass was used for its superior colour
L 004 Polish Winged Hussar armour shown in display case at Imperial War Museum London
L 006 Polish Winged Hussar armour detail showing some of the 179 hand-made brass rivets on the arm-guards
M 001 A copy of a popular English Civil War Gorget with the famous six raised and engraved panels
M 002 English Civil War Gorget rear showing two raised and engraved rear panels
M 003 English Civil War Gorget showing simple keyhole locking system
N 001 Before I could restore this beautiful Tonlet armour I first had to reproduce the missing Greenwich Gorget
P 001 Saints of the Gospel crown-ring reproduced in brass over lead for the King Alexander movie helmet
W 001 English Civil War Poleaxe or crows-beak horsemans hammer reproduced for a collector
Y 001 Steel face-visor reproduced for the Alexander movie helmet
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“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 ~
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“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 ~
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“To call Nigel’s work reproduction armour would be accurate, but would miss the point however. His pieces are truly works of art, and Nigel’s encyclopaedic knowledge of his craft is manifest in his work.”
~ Jeremy Wilton, The Four Shires Magazine ~
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“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 ~
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Get in touch
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.