An Italian armet

15th century
Hammered, one-piece iron skull with low comb and fastening holes for the crest. The brow reinforced by a large volant-piece, slightly angular on the edge and with a bow-shaped cutout on the rear. Mounted pivoting visor with handle on the right and spring catch on the left. The large cheek-pieces joining in the front, left overlapping right and hinged in the neck section. Riveted rondel. Riveted surrounding gorget. No visible armourer's marks. Height 29 cm, weight 3780 g. Old restorations and alterations, visor mounting, rondel, handle, catch and surrounding gorget later added.
Interesting, early helmet characterised by its unique, complete visor with vision slots, while most armets only feature a half visor. A similar helmet from the collection of the Baron de Cosson and later of Sir Farnham Burke is depicted and described in Sir Guy Francis Laking's "A Record of European Armour and Arms", Vol. II, figure 432, where it is determined to originate from the first half of the fifteenth century. Another special trait of this helmet are the hinges of the cheek-pieces, which are mounted on the rear and not, as usual, on the sides.

II-III