Burgonet: HEN.M.90-1933

Maker(s)

Unknown

Entities

• Burgonet

Categories

• Armour

Description

Burgonet, for light field use, with later embossed decoration. Formed of a skull with an integral peak and neck-defence, and a pair of hinged cheek-pieces. The skull rises to a moderately high medial comb. The broad, slightly downturned peak projects forward to an obtuse central point. The narrow, downturned neck-defence projects backwards to an acute central point. Each cheek-piece has a round upper edge, a centrally-cusped front edge, and short flange at the rear of its lower edge, serving as a continuation of the neck-defence. Both cheek-pieces are modern restorations. A modern plume-holder of brass is attached by a pair of rivets at the nape of the skull.
The main and subsidiary edges of the helmet are decorated with file-roped inward turns accompanied by shallow recessed borders incised with a simple design of alternating scrolls. The recessed borders are themselves bordered by an engrailed band embossed in low relief. The centre of the peak, the centre of the neck-defence and the front and rear ends of the comb are embossed and chased in relief with acanthus foliage. Each side of the comb is embossed and chased in relief on a stippled ground with scrolling foliage and flowerheads separated at the centre by a medusa's head, repeated on each cheek-piece. Each side of the crown is decorated with radiating flutes that issue from a semi-circle of radiating lobes at their upper end, and are separated by small fleurs-de-lis at their lower ends.

Notes

History note: From the collection of Fréderic Spitzer of Paris. Mr James Stewart Henderson of 'Abbotsford', Downs Road, St Helen's Park, Hastings, Sussex.

Legal notes

J.S. Henderson Bequest

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Bequeathed (1933-03-16) by Henderson, James Stewart

Dating

16th Century
19th Century
Circa 1560 - 1570 Circa 1800 - 1900

Note

North Italian

The helmet is bright with a medium pitting and patination overall.