NOVI SJAJ KADŽARSKE KACIGE IZ GRADSKOG MUZEJA VARAŽDIN
NEW SHINE OF THE QUAJAR HELMET FROM VARAŽDIN CITY MUSEUM

Summary/Abstract: Quajar helmet is one of the many items that testify to the long-term cooperation between the Varaždin City Museum and the Croatian Conservation Institute in the care of cultural heritage. The helmet is made of steel, it has a conical shape, probably with a pointed spike on its top (unfortunately lost), two slots for feathers and a chain shield for the neck. Its provenance is unknown but according to the way of making, the type of material and decorative elements, it probably constituted a kit with a circular shield inv. no. GMV 66636 and double axe inv. no. GMV 66637. According to the way of making and the manner of joining the chain rivets, it was formed after the middle of the 19th century, under the rule of the Quajar dynasty. It was probably used in rituals rather than in wars, which is related to the time of creation and the content of the text on the rim, and it was maybe used in a played battle within the religious epic theatre Ta’zieh. This ritual revives the battle of 680s at Karbala, which Shiites mark every year during the ten-day period of Muharram. Conservation and restoration work included the elimination of corrosion process in its entirety, works on the textiles used as lining, the substitute of the links in knit band along the rim and the protection at the end. The helmet is an example of a curator and restaurateur’s collaboration around the final museum presentation of the object. It was decided that the remains of the preserved gold decoration are visually well-functioning and there is no need for additional intervention. The cooperation of these two institutions has provided more precise dating and determination of the object itself.

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