1930s Ginestet Surgical Helmet
This is a rare Ginestet surgical helmet. It was placed over the skull to allow the surgeon to position and affix pins to the bones of the face during maxillo-facial surgery. Dr. Gustave Ginestet (1897-1966) earned degrees in medicine and dentistry, served in both world wars and ultimately rose to the rank of general in the French army. He was a leading, if not the leading ,figure in French maxillo-facial surgery from the 1930s through the 1960s. The heated electric head the helmet is displayed on is unique as well. It was used to shape wigs. The total look reminds me of Fritz Lang’s futuristic movie classic “Metropolis”.
