18th C. Indo-Persian Mughal Khulah Khud Helmet

An interesting late 18th C. Indian iron khulah khud helmet of solid iron, this example has a simple but pleasing form of a transitional early type between the Persianate forms of the 16th-17th C. and the late Persian style more commonly found on Zand and Qajar era piece.

However, the plain iron form, which has the remains of some gold koftgari around the edge of the bowl and the simple rounded plume holders and nose guard point towards a North Indian origin, where more idiosyncratic forms were common than in Persia.

Of good heavy weight this would have been a battle helmet.