Kulah Khud Sikh Punjabi

The "Khula-Khud" is a type of helmet that originated in Persia and was very common in other cultures such as Eastern Europe and India. While most Persian helmets are richly decorated with carved designs and decorated with gold inlay, their Indian counterparts generally feature a more refined style of decoration with koftgari and often lack carved decoration. The basic form of the "Kulah-Khud" is a single-piece skull with an attached "zirah" dovetail and an S-shaped peak on top. The front often has plume holders in which the plumes were placed during parades. Some examples have an adjustable nose guard that can be adjusted according to the owner's preference. In India, particularly in the Sikh Empire, helmets are often smaller and designed to fit over a turban and are called "Top" helmets. (see a classic top helmet here).

This example: A fine 'Kulah-Khud' from the Punjab region of present-day Pakistan. Like the shields, this example most likely comes from Sialkot, hence the typical koftgari inlay in arabesques of 'Ganga Jamuna' (a mixture of silver and gold). The top of the helmet has a lotus finial which terminates in a large aigrette holder. A classic Sikh helmet which can be compared with a series of similar examples held in the Royal Armouries, Leeds.