N3
N1 N2 N1, N2, N3 - Italian sallet, or celata, of around 1520, with finely moulded crown finishing in a cable, the front portion of which is stiffened by a reinforcing plate. The vision slit, or ocularium, is formed by the gap between the top of the visor, itself of bellows-form and embossed with four concave transverse flutes pierced by breathing holes, and the lower edge of the reinforcing plate. The back of the skull is curved out to form a neck-guard. The crown still retains traces of delicate etching. The harness that would have been worn with such a headpiece would have been of a plain, rounded, and predominantly functional and robust design (North Italian, possibly Venetian c. 1510-1520 / Laking 439). N4,N5 - Maximilian close-helmet dating to around 1520 with fluted crown and sharp pointed visor of bellows form. The original pivot hole on one side of the visor was damaged and a new hole fitted, giving the visor a slightly upward displacement to one side. (German c.1520 / Laking 44). N6, N7 - French-style field close-helmet with roped comb. The visor is pierced with a continuous ocularium which has the lower edge forged out into a roped ridge. The helmet has a pivoting ‘mezail’ but lacks the chin-piece, rendering it, as a result, incomplete. On the right side of the visor is fixed a lifting peg. This helmet has a distinctive and pronounced prow-shaped profile (French c.1520-30, Laking 427).
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