Hello everyone

I found this picture of a very nice kettlehat/early morion with bevor on Arador.com - it is supposed to be a part of the collection at The Royal Museum of the Army and Military History in Brussels, Belgium.

Does anyone here have any information or additional photos on this helmet and the bevor? They look, for me, to be of italian origin - probably about 1470-1520 or thereabout.

The question is also whether this helmet and bevor was made to be used togeter in the first place - or if they have been put together to look good in the exhibit?

Does any of you know of similar pieces in existence?

I am considering to have both pieces copied, as they look to be both very attractive and practical.

Thank you in advance.


/Jakob

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I have seen and photographed a virtually identical late 15th century helmet in the Royal armouries museum in Leeds. I can't remember where it's from though.
[ Linked Image ]
[ Linked Image ]

Thanks Hisham

Thats a very nice helmet - I really like the hammered out "appendix" on the top.

Any ideas about what the holes on the brim are for? It looks like rivet-holes for a leather or fabric lining.


/Jakob

Jakob;

Don't know for certain if they were made together but they sure look that way.

If you notice the angle of the downturned brim and the angle of the top of the Bevor seem at least in this photograph to be very parallel to each other. Two pieces coming from different makers and just assembled for an exhibit in all probability would not have the same angles for helm and bevor.

Not impossible that pieces not made together might work together this well, but in that case and when they were made the owner of the helm might have shopped around or had made later a bevor that would be harmonious with the helm.

Just speculation on my part but I think a logical supposition.

Somewhere I have some late 15th c. German art that shows just such a helmet /bevor combination being worn by horsemen who are otherwise clad in so-called 'Gothic' armour. I haven't seen it since the move, though, which unfortunately means 'You'll just have to trust me".

That sounds like a great kit! Please post pictures when it's done :)

I really like these Bevor / Iron hat or Sallet combinations. There's probably no better way to protect your throat and neck than with a Bevor (from my point of view).
Having said that it makes me wonder why people eventually stopped using Bevors. Aren't helmets like Armets less comfortable to wear? Perhaps it was just a fashion-thing.
If anyone could answer this question, please do so :)

Wolfgang Armbruster wrote:

That sounds like a great kit! Please post pictures when it's done :) I really like these Bevor / Iron hat or Sallet combinations. There's probably no better way to protect your throat and neck than with a Bevor (from my point of view). Having said that it makes me wonder why people eventually stopped using Bevors. Aren't helmets like Armets less comfortable to wear? Perhaps it was just a fashion-thing. If anyone could answer this question, please do so :)

I actually i have heard that bevors can be quite restrictive and limit head movement, which is why sallets were often worn alone. Armets however do allow a lot more movement. :)

If you want restrictive though, have a look at this kettle-hat and bevor combo, also in the Royal Armouries: :D
[ Linked Image ]
[ Linked Image ]

Best armour has some replica helmets which are similar:
http://www.bestarmour.com/zbroje3.htm

While on the topic of restrictive bevors, I have been researching the various styles and designs of late 15th century gothic armor and what's currently available in the repo market. I have run across a couple of examples of bevors that have full gorget plates all the way around, and not just a strap in the back. See the attached pics for examples. However, I can find absolutely no historical precedent for this design. Is anyone aware of this type of bevor actually being used in history or is it just a modern interpretation?

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Thank you for all your answers.

Yes, unfortunally a bevor limits the movement quite a bit - but it also opens up for using certain long-sword techniques, which would otherwice be way too dangerous. I wouldn't like to take blows or plunges at the neck or throat without wearing a bevor and a deep kettlehat or visored sallet.

As to the bevors with full gorgets; we had a discussion about them in the club where i train and teach german long-sword fencing. I have spent some time looking for any proof that they vere used in the late 15. c. - as so far I haven't been able to finde any. So I guess they veren't used.

If everything goes as planned I will have my kit finished around the end of 2006 - I will be sure to post some pictures then.

I am currently waiting for a plackart (http://www.hodgkiss.armour.btinternet.co.uk/plackart.jpg from Martin Hodgkiss (http://www.hodgkiss.armour.btinternet.co.uk/).

To start with i might go with a lighter configuration, consisting of a long-sleeved aketon, a plackart, jackchains (http://tomala.tron.yupe.net/of_d/plytowka/rece_p/rece4_1.jpg), milanese mittens and a kettlehat/early morion with a matching bevor.


/Jakob

I just found this picture of a deep kettlehat, of a different design, with a very high bevor and eyeslits, supposedly from Castle Churburg, around 1460.

I have heard about a Dutch one, of a rather similar design, but with a twisted top.


/Jakob

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One source for a rider such as James Gillaspie describes is the c. 1470 Paulus Kal Fechtbuch, which has several riders wearing kettle helms and bevors with gothic harnesses.

This fencing work is the subject of my next book, "In Service of the Duke: Paulus Kal's Treatise on Swordsmanship and Martial Arts." This should be out in the first half of 2006.

All the best,

CHT

I haven' t been able to find pictures of the original dutch kettlehat with twisted top. But here is a picture of a very nice reproduction from www.whiterosearmoury.co.uk. I really like the gilded decorative balls on the top.


/Jakob

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