I was wondering if there was a technical name for this type of helmet; is it a Great Bascinet or a tourney Helm or something like that?
Secondly, I was wondering if you fine people could perhaps direct or show me any primary sources or archaeological examples, heck even modern reproductions would be greatly appreciated :D
I'm asking as I'm looking to making/getting one made for a mixture of SCA combats and perhaps Live Steel pomp ;)
Y'know, the whole fancy look with frills and such.
So yeah, any examples or info or help would be greatly appreciated.

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mid-15th Century, from 'Riddarlek Och Tornerspel: Tournaments and the Dream of Chivalry.' p.75.

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I think these helmets were used for combat with wooden clubs. Hold on, while I find a picture of one. I know there's one in the Met.

In Pisa, Italy, they still have an annual festival called the Gioco del Ponte, which includes a foot combat with wooden clubs, and they still use those same type of helmets (not exactly the same as the ones you've shown, but similar.)

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Fantastic gallery of more photos here.

The drawing of the helmet is a black and white copy of this drawing from Rene of Anjou's Tournament Book ("Le Livre des tournois" aka "Traictié de la forme et devis d'ung tournoy") which was written about 1460.
The original is a lavishly illustrated work which has been of great use to historians due to the detail in which it records the clothing and armour.
This is the original image of the helmet


The weapons used in the Tournament described were wooden clubs and a special form of blunt sword


http://www.princeton.edu/~ezb/rene/renehome.html has an English translation of the text as well as instructions on how to access the artwork with the Bibliotheque Nationale website

I'd call the helmet shown in Rene d'Anjou's work a great bascinet which has been given a specialised visor for use in tournament.

I would call it a "tournament helm" of the 15th through 17th century era. I have not seen anything conclusively indicating that they were ever used for anything other than behourd or wooden club, baleen, and other sword simulator type weapons. Some antique bookmarks and period comments translated in a text about old German bookplate marks seem to indicate they continued to appear in crests through the 17th century. (Descriptions of them varied so greatly that it is dubious if people using them for personal designs had much understanding or historical based typologies such as; "barrel helm", "bascinet", etc.)

Adam: They still do this kind of thing in Italy? Looks like I might have to travel there some day and see if I can join in :lol:
Daniel: Ah, merci. Those are much better quality then the ones I've got saved.
Jared: So just call it a "Tournament Helm" eh? Well, that certainly makes it easier to define.

Does anyone know of any reproductions of this type of helmet, I think I saw one in 'Techniques of Medieval Armour Reproduction: The 14th Century', but have never, to my recolection, come across any modern interpratations of them, alas.

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Another query if I may again...
How would one get into this sort of helm, as it seems that the neck is very fitted so simply putting it on is unlikely.
I thought that it might be like a sort of close-helmet/armet sort of system where you lift up the front visor, then the front part of the 'neck', pop it on and lock it down. But this assumes that they are hinged.
I asked a buddy o' mine and he suggested that perhaps they were more similar to a sallet/bevour combo, that is to say that the front piece or whole 'neck' is seperate and each bit is put on accordingly.
Any ideas or examples you mob?

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This is an example of the sort of 'neck' I mean.

i believe the whole front can go up so lift the neck guard,insert head, close neck guard.
Jeffrey hedgecock has some great great bascinets and uses them regulary. he'll know how they work

That'd be fantastic Johan :)

We've recently done a renee of anjou style tournament here in the uk:

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Two of the riders sported renee style bascinets, which have removable visors for club tournee and joust. They fix to the back and breastplates and are apparently really comfortable to wear because you have none of their weight on your head.

Any more pictures or videos Zac? I would have loved seeing that in person!

RPM

Zac: those look awesome!
I'm now even more compelled to get one! :lol:

Fingered gauntlets? Unprotected and BARE fingers under "half-mitten"? I can very well imagine these fingers between handle of one club and business end of another. My friend once made mitten-style gauntlet that left just the tips of his fingers unprotected. He learned the lesson the very first time he put the on. You guys are crazy! Or was it just a show?

Zac: Right, that's it, I'm getting one! Time to start saving...
Those horses look mighty well trained, but I notice no shaffrons for the melee horses. I'm sure striking the horse is pretty bad form and noone would do it on purpose, but still, shouldn't the poor ponies be somewhat more... Well equiped?
Oh, and could you give a link to the rules, as I don't beilieve I've ever come across a modern version.

Zac, my good sir, those look damn fantastic! And erganomical and effective! I like the idea of being in the joust, only to ride off and then come back on with a different visor! Sounds like a ye oldde Ironman event!
And it's good to know the poor horses haven't been forgotten! I'm looking forward to seeing their armour and fancy overcoat things.
I like the sounds of those rules, and by the sounds of it so does the audience! :lol:
Does anyone have gauntlets with those little rodels on them? Oh, and are those 'club' (for lack of a cool French word) actual wood or synthetic?
I look forward to seeing more gear!

Edit: This thread seems to be turning into a Renee Tourny thread! Good stuff!

Oh, and I'd want the visor brass or gold plated!

Zac: Ah, good to know the gauntlets are on the way.
Balsa padding... Interesting, I must try it.
"Medieval Ironman 100%" now that's an event I must participate in one day!
And Tournament of the Phoenix: curse living on an island off an island, otherwise I'd be there in a flash!