[Dominic Dellavalle]

Found this interesting piece while browsing the Met's website this morning. I had read through the earlier post where a few links to some painted sallets were posted and thought some of you may want to take a peak at this.

I'm not that familiar with the sallet but I would have to believe this would be for ceremonial use. The weight alone seems to point in that direction. Then again I could be wrong, but 8lbs seems heavy for this style.

Either way, enjoy!

[Nathan Robinson]

This example has a fully-formed helmet underneath with bronze or copper added onto it in the form of a lion's head. It's then gilded. It's purely parade or ceremonial in function. I've read that the helmet underneath is a T-shaped celata (sallet), but I don't recall the source offhand. Other decorative types of celata were covered in velvet and gilded ornamentation and called celate da mostra.

[Chuck Russell]

think it was in the Met museums book of helmets.

[Russ Thomas]

I really do not know very much about this particular helmet, but if I recall correctly, this sallet has two or three lames at the neck. Somewhere at home , packed at the moment for moving , I have a copy of 'Buttetin', the journal of the Met. Museum, from 1964, and this has a line drawing of this helmet minus the pussycat, which I seem to remember shows lames at the neck. I will try and see if I can dig it out and make sure.

Regards as ever,

Russ