The National Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan houses an 18th-century gilded helmet originating from S Kazakhstan. The artefact is included in the exhibition of Kazakh batyrs’ weapons and is regarded as a rare authentic example of protective armour from that period, El.kz reports.
The helmet features an elongated metal dome and a mail aventail that protected the warrior’s neck and the sides of the head.
The base was produced using bending and forging techniques, while the surface was gilded and decorated with engraved ornamentation.
Accordingly, the commonly used designation “golden helmet” is not entirely accurate. The artefact itself is made of metal, while gold was used as a decorative coating. In the museum’s description, it is identified as a gilded helmet.
The object measures 21 × 24.5 × 19 centimetres. According to the published collection of exhibits of the National Museum, the helmet is associated with southern Kazakhstan and dates to the 18th century.
The collection records also indicate that the artefact was transferred from the State Central Museum in Almaty in February 1998. The name of the previous owner or the warrior to whom the helmet may have belonged is not provided in the publicly available description.
The surface of the dome is decorated with Arabic script. Similar inscriptions on weapons and armour could have served religious and protective purposes. However, the publicly available museum record does not provide a complete transcription of the inscription. Therefore, it cannot currently be established with certainty which particular Quranic verses or supplicatory formulas are inscribed on the helmet.
The exact place of manufacture has likewise not been established. The reference to S Kazakhstan may indicate the artefact’s region of origin or use, but it does not necessarily identify the workshop in which it was produced. During that period, weapons and armour moved together with their owners and also reached the steppe through trade, diplomatic gifts, and military campaigns.
The National Museum displays the helmet as part of its collection of Kazakh batyrs’ weaponry. Together with chain mail, shields, sabres, spears, and combat belts, it provides an insight into the equipment and protective armour used by steppe warriors several centuries ago.
