Fig. 273.—Chapelle-de-fer, c. 1485.
About 1450 the Salade (Germ. schallern, from schale, a shell, or Italian celata) was introduced into England, and for a considerable time formed the headpiece of knights, men-at-arms, and archers. It rested entirely upon the head, and was not affixed in any way to the body armour. Its coolness was a great recommendation, as was also the facility with which the head could be moved in all directions. There appear to be two distinct head-pieces from which the salade could owe its development; the chapelle-de-fer is one, and it probably suggested the German shape. This was in use from the thirteenth to the fifteenth centuries, and consisted of a light iron headpiece with a flat broad brim turned down. In the earlier examples the brim projects equally all round, but later it is much flatter at the front than at the back, where it was drawn out to a point (see [Fig. 273]). The Italian celata was the second model from which the salade could trace its evolution; it was the helmet of barbute form referred to on p. [173], and which was undoubtedly founded upon the Greek model. It gradually developed in the fifteenth century into the shape shown in [Fig. 274], losing its pointed apex and swelling outwards at the back of the neck. Upon their introduction into France, both German and Italian forms were classed under the name Salade. The salade in its primitive form was a head protection forged at first out of one piece of metal ([Fig. 275] and [Fig. 276]) with a comb upon the crest and an occularium, which was made available by pulling down the front of the helmet until it rested level with the eyes. This was superseded by one having a movable visor which could be raised or lowered at pleasure, and generally when lowered was locked with a spring catch ([Fig. 277]). A few examples occur in which the long projection at the back is jointed after the form of the lobster’s tail, and at times the salade measured as much as sixteen or eighteen inches from front to back. An example weighing 5 lbs. is in Case 25 at the Tower of London, dating from 1450: it is of German make and still bright, though much pitted all over ([Fig. 278]). A very interesting example is [Fig. 279], in the Wallace Collection, dating from about 1460, which was probably used by a mounted archer. As in the Tower example, it is bright but pitted: the crown is without a ridge, but becomes combed at the tail; the form of the salade enables it to be thrown well back upon the head when not in use. The small holes round the visor were probably intended for the sewing in of a lining, and the pairs of holes at the sides show where the strong lining was affixed which supported the helmet itself. Salades of this shape are shown in contemporary paintings, those of Albert Dürer for example. The mentonnière was habitually used with the salade: it was a plate fastened by one, two, or three screws or almayne (sliding) rivets to the upper part of the breastplate, and was moulded so as to cover the lower part of the face to the lips or nose and reach to the ears on both sides (see [Fig. 280]). In use the visor of the salade when lowered fell outside the mentonnière, thus effectually protecting the face of the wearer. A plate cheek-guard or bavière was worn at times, and this reinforcement is plainly seen in the salade, with crest, of the Duke Ludwig of Bavaria, 1449 ([Fig. 281]). A salade of German pattern with a very high crown is shown in [Fig. 282]; the general type of armour prevailing upon the Continent in 1450 is here presented, the laminated brassarts being a special feature. As a rule, however, a collar or standard of mail was deemed to be a sufficient protection under the mentonnière. An example of the mentonnière dating from about 1480 is No. 840 in the Wallace Collection; it has two plates, of which the upper one is held in position by a spring catch; it suggests the falling bufe of a later period. [Fig. 283] represents a salade of the end of the fifteenth century; it will be seen that a comb runs over the crown, and that a sliding neck-guard is used in place of a rigid tail. A magnificent example of Milanese workmanship is shown on [Plate VII.*], p. [60].
Fig. 274.—Italian celata.
Fig. 275.—German salade, c. 1440.
