Oilman's Safety Hat Macdonald Type
Date1960-1980
Object NameHard Hat
Mediummetal (aluminium)
ClassificationsNorth Sea Oil and Gas Industries
DimensionsOverall: Height: 13.8 cm, Width: 21.9 cm, Length: 28.8 cm
LocationView by Appointment - Aberdeen Treasure Hub
Object numberABDMS005016
Keywords
This example has intricate imagery of Iranian origin. It was made using the repousse technique (the imagery is in relief by being hammered from the inside of the helmet).
Such helmets are well known in the industry although the quality of work has deteriorated in recent years. Although they could be worn examples such as this were never really meant as such. Rather they are artworks in their own right, and an exotic 'status symbol' of an oil worker especially in the mid -late 20th century. This was a time when being an oil worker was regarded as being a 'breed apart', working long hours in a hard, dangerous and often isolated environment.
