I ran across this bascinet the other day and found it fascinating. It looks like a fairly typical bascinet but instead of an aventail of mail and/or padding, it is one piece (except the visor) formed to cover the head and neck, taking the place of the aventail.

It's dated to c. 1400 and resides in the Ducal Palace in Venice.

I'm not sure I've seen anything like it before. I've seen great bascinets with the skull and neck protection made of multiple plates, but never anything quite like this. It's an impressive piece of work.

Does anyone know of any others like this or any other pictures of this helm?

By the way, this one is published in 2,500 years of European helmets, 800 B.C.-1700 A.D by Howard M Curtis and Ritter-Rüstungen--Der Eiserne Gast: Ein Mittelalterliches Phänomen by Dario Lanzardo.

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I couldn't pull a direct link to the picture, and I wouldn't want to copy it without permission, but if you go to www.arador.com, click on their gallery, and go to the collection from the Doge's Palace by Eli Steenput.

I thought this great bascinet would make an awesome early period jousting helm ever since I saw this photo. Thanks for finding a far better photo of it! :)

Impressive work but I can't help wonder about an opponent just side-stepping: " Where did he go? Where did he GO !!!! :p :lol:

I imagine that the head would be able to move from side to side inside the helm even if the helm didn't have any mobility.

Didn't some of these great helms have the skull part on a ring so that the head part could rotate on the shoulder part ?

In any case really nice to look at but I would hate having to retie my shoelaces with it on. ( Couldn't resist a second joke. )

The thinking on this one is that it is a very early piece made strictly for mounted jousting, the idea (like all great bacinets) is to minimize the possibility of trauma to the head and neck, transferring shock to the shoulders. Seen in profile, however, the visor is sitting at the wrong angle, and is most likely associated.

Kel,
That's a great question. I've looked at a number of bascinets and asked myself how someone with a normal-shaped skull could see out of them. I think there are a number of these associations.

I believe a proper examination of this piece has shown it is pieces together from several helms and not a configuration found in the 14th/15th century. This helmet pops up on armor related boards every now and again.

I agree that there are many pieces that are associated for a variety of reasons and some were done in the working life of the pieces, but also people have naturally differing shapes, very wide very narrow , very big to very small. The 'houndskull' Bascinet in the Royal Armouries for example ( my pics were too big to put on this site?) of which I have a copy and molds taken from the original, isn't designed for a normal head in my opinion, I can put it on and see clearly but there is no room for padding at the front or back but plenty at the sides and I don't regard myself as having an abnormally shaped head :lol: However the back of this helmet is very flat, I would have liked to have put profile pics onto show what I mean.

Regards Lawrence

Hi Chad.........this helm is by no means unique. I am going to see an associate today and I will ask about them ( its quicker ) I have attached a pic of one from the UK but I think I have others too. "Armourers Workshop" has even reproduced it ! I have to dash right now, but I thought Id just throw this one into the pile for discussion and Ill try and add some factual input when I get back.

Cheers !

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Merv, thanks for keeping this thread alive. :)

If you have any other examples similar to these, please post. I'm slowly hoarding 14th century jousting armour images.

On the photo you posted, I notice pairs of holes spaced around the rim of the helm; lacing for a liner or something else?

Merv,
Thanks for that interesting picture. What impresses me most about the one I originally posted is that it's all one piece (apart from the visor).

I'd love to hear more about the one you posted, too.

Hi Chad, Jonathan, everyone.........What a huge day.......managed to ask my esteemed colleague and Jouster friend who assured me, much to my suprise, that they were indeed worn in battle !! As I had to shft a 10 foot long trailer load of tools and equipment, I wasnt able to stay chatting for too long, but I will ask him plus our group leader who is an historical author, if you like, and get some references ( hopefully). He told me that theres another one in a museum that started life as a regular bascinet and was later modified into 'greatness' ! :D This, I will also ask about !
Re the pic I posted, I am very sure that the lacing holes are to secure a padded lining ( IMHO)
I have to dash right now ( again) but I will dig up some more info & images.
Cheers for now.

Merv Cannon