The World of Helen Warner

Entering the world of Helen Warner is to delve into a ghostly place, where haunting and magic are the standard, where all is sheathed in cloaks of dark mystery, and one can imagine witches and fairies and demons alike sharing secret corners of shrouded lands.

Ms. Warner's vision is gothic and vicarious, allowing the viewer to participate in her world while remaining just outside of it, like something glimpsed on the edge of the peripheral.  She takes an unobtrusive role and allows the intense, energetic subject matter to tell the story on its own, allowing us to feel like we stumbled upon the strange scene all by ourselves.
 

Her photos hold a dichotic balance of elegant and edgy, light and dark, welcoming and foreboding.

In short, I want to go to there.

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source; source.

tags:  art, dark, demons, fairies, fantasy, grotesque, helen warner, magic, mystery, photo, photography, portrait, vague, witches, woods, worlds

Helmets from Chivalric Antiquity

 As some of you may have gathered from reading this blog, I do so love me some history.

So it was exciting whe I came across an article called 

"The Weirdest and Fiercest Helmets from the Age of Armored Combat",

  highlighting some amazing pieces of ceremonial art from centuries ago.

I was struck by the creative aspect of these incredible works more than their other, darker purpose (although indeed, much of the ornate armor was intended for pageantry and intimidation, not for use in battle). 

It isn't hard to imagine these helmets coming from another world entirely...

Let's begin with one of the most famous - and intriguing - helmets of all time:  The Horned Helmet of Henry VIII:

{ above:  via Royal Armouries website:  "Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I presented Henry VIII with... this extraordinary ‘Horned helmet’ in 1514..  It was made for use in pageants rather than for combat. Henry VIII might have worn it at sumptuous events such as the parades that accompanied tournaments." }

{ The extremely fierce "Toothface helm" by an unknown Italian artist from the 17th century. }

{ Closed helmet with mask visor, by Kolman Helmschmid in Augsburg, Germany, c. 1515.  "Grotesque" human figures were popularly used in armor during this time. }

... And who knew King Charles the 5th had such an impressive collection of showy pageant wear?...

 { Ceremonial and parade helmets of Charles V ca. 1540s. }

{ Sallet in the Shape of a Lion's Head, c. 1475-1480; "The earliest surviving example of a Renaissance armor all'antica. The outer shell of the steel helmet was made of embossed and gilt copper." }

{ Frog-mouth helm and drawings of, 14th-17th. }

{Bascinet and sketches from the 14th and 15th century.}

{ Japanese sea conch shell helmet, 1618.  First tourist hat ever? }

{ Burgonet of Guidobaldo II della Rovere, Duke of Urbino, Milan 1532-35. }

{ Cheeky 'stash, mate!  quirky early 16th century German plate armours featuring dandy mustaches - first made for the Emperor Maximilian I. }

 find more ancient armoury here, and historical artifacts here