A Fine Italian Close-Helmet For The Tilt
Late 16th Century
Of iron and designed to fit on the rim of a gorget, with heavy one-piece skull with low deeply roped comb bordered by incised lines and with tubular brass plume-holder at the rear incised with spiral lines between borders of punched scrolls, and visor and upper- and lower-bevors pivoted at the same points and with incised double line borders, the prow-shaped visor with single narrow vision slit, roped forward edge, and a sprung catch engaging with a hole in the upper bevor and operated by a thong release, the upper bevor overlapping it and with hinged ventilation trap on the right with pivoting sprung catch, and with a hole for a screw for the attachment of a grandguard, the lower-bevor shaped to the chin and with turned and roped border around the face-opening, two hinged locking catches on the right engaging with pin-catches on the upper-bevor and skull, the lower edge at front (old repair) and rear with a hollow roped turn bordered by dome-headed brass-capped lining rivets (some rust patination and scattered pitting)
26 cm. high