Discussion: The zischägge is also known as a lobstertail…Harquebusier….or Pot.   The Zischagge has an interesting story. The Europeans copied it from the Turks, who called it a chichak or shishak. For the complete story, see Armor in the Oriental Fashion, pages 267-#15 in my book. By circa 1600, the heavy lance began to go out of vogue, except for Scotland and Spain. The Germans continued to manufacture cuirassier armor much longer than England and other parts of Europe until circa 1650. The cuirassier was active as early as the English Civil War and in the Thirty Years War. By circa 1620, defensive armor changed to the mere armor a harquebusier would wear. The armor consisted of an open-face helmet such as a Zisch; a cuirass was worn over a buff coat (which served the function of a mail shirt) and a bridle (long left-hand) gauntlet.

Description:  Constructed with a one-piece hemispherical skull embossed with eight radiating ribs and fitted at its apex with a looped finial and octofoil brass washer,  at its brow with a flat blunt pointed peak, and at its nape a flaring, blunt, pointed neck guard of four lames, and at each side, its original shield-shaped cheekpiece and pierced at its center with five small auditory holes in the shape of a die. The rear of the peak is pierced with a rectangular hole to accommodate its double sliding nasal bar consisting of its original full facial protection nasal, which clips onto the original singular nasal bar by a brass staple and an accompanying wing-headed screw of iron.  The helmet’s surface is blackened, and its interior is fitted with rivets to hold the lining in place. Armory inventory control # D 708 on the peak of the visor. Condition very good but a lame could be an old working life replacement.  Height: 9¼ in (25 cm).

Conclusion: This is a very rare typology of Zischagge. It’s the only one I have had that has its original full facial protection nasal, which clips onto the original singular nasal bar in 35 years. Its armory inventory control number attests that it was housed in an armory for possibly centuries, which attests to its originality. It is reasonably priced for such a rarity to sell at under $4K, which is not expensive for such an extreme rarity. I make this statement realizing a regular Zischagge, in some cases, can sell for about half this amount.