Fig. 365.—Maximilian armour, 1535.
Fig. 366.—Maximilian armour.
Fig. 367.—Sabbaton, Maximilian armour. (Wallace Coll.)
The Helmet.—The closed helmet continued to be used during this period, though modified and altered in many particulars by the armourers. The flutings are carried as a rule from front to back over the crown, and the universal comb is decorated with a roped pattern. The visor is generally moulded into three or four ridges, giving the well-known bellows appearance. The gorget is affixed to the helmet, and appears as three or more spreading lames of steel, the lowest being worked into a pattern; at times, however, it appears distinct, and the helmet revolves upon the expanded upper edge of the gorget.
A very perfect type of close helmet is shown in [Fig. 368], in which the comb is much larger than was the custom at an earlier date and resembles that of a morion. The visor is formed of two parts, the upper or visor proper, which falls down inside the second part or bavière, and could be raised for vision if required without disturbing the lower portion. The date is c. 1560, and it is probably Milanese. The helmet engraved in [Fig. 369] is of English origin and partakes of the nature of a helmet and also a burgonet. The latter form of helmet appeared during the Burgundian wars, hence its name, at the beginning of the fifteenth century, and is essentially a helmet with cheek-pieces attached, the protection for the face being afforded by separate pieces, the bufe or laminated chin-piece being used at times. [Fig. 370] is an Italian burgonet dating from 1540.