Burgonet circa 1510
Shallow skull with a low roped ridge forming a simple crest. The bowl extends slightly to cover the forhead and farther to cover the neck. Deep fall with wide rounded brim. The outer edge of the brim with a shallow inward turn. The helmet only really covers the head because the fall extends 1 1/2 in below the front edge of the bowl. This allows a shallow bowl to cover the head reasonably. The neck is covered by a single rounded tail lame with a simple raised border on the outside edge. One hinge for the lost cheek pieces remains. Painted overall with a black finish over what appears to be a smooth surface. There is a hole in the top of the skull at the back of the crest the back of crest and the skull around it have been flattened. In its orignal form the top would have been rounded like the front. The brim of the fall is bent at the center. There is also what appears to be a mark in the center of the brim. This appears to be a D on its back. This has been found on pieces made in Nuremberg for Vienna. This is a simple example of a very early 16th century style of burgonet. The hole and lost checkplates are later damage, but the form shows the lack of symmetry that is common to many pieces of armour.
Measurements: fromt to back of the bowl 7 5/8 in., side to side 6 7/8 in. Fall 2 1/4 in. tall (tapering to 2 on the left side) and brim 1 5/8 in overall (tapering to 1 3/8 on the left) tail lame 1 5/8 on the left and 1 3/8 in. on the right where it sits off the skull - the overall length from the skull is 1 5/8 on both sides.
Thickness: brim mostly .042-.048 in. Skull mostly app. 050 in. but there are some spots thinning to .030 and up to .070 in. Tail .058-.062 in.
Not for sale.
South German Burgonet circa 1540
One piece skull formed with four triangular panels rising to a near pyramidal point, fitted with fixed peak and neck guard each with recessed border and finely roped edge. With a pair of simple cheek plates. A burgonet of similar form and struck with the mark of the Vienna City arsenal is preserved in the Fitzwilliam Museum Campridge (inv. number HEN.M.80-1933).
Not for sale.
Burgonet mid 16th century
One piece skull with four creases rising to a tall point at the center. Bluntly pointed peak formed as part of the bowl. The skull retains its original blackened finish and padded lining. Originally formed with white bands at the creases and on the brim, later (during its working life) to overall rough from the hammer and blackened. Likely at this same time the tail lame was replaced by the current tail. Cheek plates modern replacements. Lining attached to leather strips secured by a line of rivets above the brim and tail. Quilted lining of 2 layers stuffed with fibre. Each layer formed in 2 halves with a central seam front to back.
Not for sale.
Burgonet circa 1580-90
Burgonet. 2 piece skull with smooth surface. Extremely high, rear-swept comb. Pointed brim and tail integral to the bowl, each with rolled, roped and recessed borders. Small, original cheek plates with rolled, roped and recessed borders. The form of the bowl is remeniscent of morions at the time with aggressively pointed brow and neck. Shows signs of pitting and later cleaning. Rivets and decorative washers replaced.
Not for sale.
German Burgonet 16th century
This burgonet has a finish that was "rough from the hammer" - the helmet was shaped and plannished with a hammer to its final shape, but it was never ground to eliminate the hammer marks. There are signs that it was then left "black" - the oxidation from heating the helmet during its construction was not removed - and then probably painted. It has been cleaned recently such that much of the oxidation and any original paint have been removed. The lining is attached to two strips of leather which are riveted to the bowl of the helmet above the face and at the neck (these lines of rivets can be seen in the picture). This would originally have been the type of helmet that was kept in an arsenal and issued to soldiers. Unlike the highest quality custom burgonets, the cheek plates were not originally lined. One of the cheek plates is associated. Complete with tail lame, cheek plates and lining. Linings remaining in armour are very rare.
Not for sale.
Burgonet - lining 16th century
Interior view of burgonet. Shows the old lining - mostly detached, but retaining lining strip.
Not for sale.
German Burgonet 16th century
This is a good example of the type of helmet that would have been warn by the light cavalry units in all of the armies of western Europe during the second half of the 16th century. Originally (as now) with a polished surface. One piece skull. Nuremberg stamp. Good form overall. Lining rivets securing leather strips to skull. Rivets and leathers replaced. Helmet overall cleaned.
Not for sale.
German Burgonet 16th century
One piece polished skull. Nuremberg guild mark. This helmet retains its original plume holder. Provenance: Bischoff Collection, Vienna.
Not for sale.
German Burgonet 16th cent (late)
Of "Black and White" form with recessed bands on each side of the skull. High, roped comb. Neck plate and brim formed of separate plates, each with rolled, recessed and roped borders. Cheek plates with flared bottom (conforming to the neck plate), raised circle in the center and a raised edge at the face openning. Signs of delamination as is common with authentic pieces. Includes original patch at the tail flare and 2 rivets to stabilize laminations at the forhead. Extremely fine roping on the rolls. Right cheek plate replaced. Remains of original finish. Overall oxidized surface. Small holes in the comb.
Not for sale.
Burgonet circa 1600
Burgonet. Smooth surface. Nuremberg form. One piece bowl. High, straight comb. Brim formed of a separate piece. Original cheek plates with simple hole decoration. Original (probably from the manufacturing process) patch inside the edge of the skull under the right cheekplate. De-laminations in the bowl and brim. Tail plate missing.
Not for sale.
Italian closed burgonet circa 1620
Skull formed of 2 pieces, the right side overlapping the left. Seam forms a crease, not a raised comb. 2 halves are riveted together. Decorative filing at the crease to simulate roping and a pair of parallel lines on each side of the roping. Matching parallel lines on the edges of the peak, bevor and neck lanes. Small movable peak of round form. Bevor extending up to cover the cheeks and form a "Y" shaped hole. Peak and bevor pivoted on the same rivets. Single neck lames at the front and back with rolled lower edges. Rolls decorated with simple filed roping. Bevor secured by later strap and buckle. Overall very light weight like many of the munition morions and open burgonets.
Not for sale.
Lobster-tailed pot circa 1650
Deep, heavy bowl formed of 2 pieces joined at the center with a flat riveted seam. The seam is inset to that the outside is flush. There is an engraved/chiseled line on the other side of the seam to simulate a central band. The bowl is rough-from-the-hammer. Pointed, hinged fall with 3 bars covering the face. Tail of one piece simulating 3 lames. The outer border of the tail has an inward-turned roll and a parallel recessed border. Lining rivets around the front edge of the bowl and along the edge of the tail. Skull marked on one side near the bottom. This mark appears to be a crowned IR, relatively illegible. This appears to be normal - see The London Armourers of the 17th Century by Thom Richardson, page 19. Cheek plates missing. The 2 piece skull and 3 bar face are typical of English armour of the period.
Measurements: bowl 8 3/4 in. front to back, 6 3/4 in. side to side, 6 in. deep at the center, bars 6 1/2 in. from the base of the brim to the bottom of the point.
Thickness: Tail .040-.050 in., Brim mainly .040-.050 in. except at the corner and pivot area where it gets much thicker - app. .090 in. The bowl varies significantly in thickness. It is generally thinner at the bottom and thicker at the top. A sampling of measurements show .070, .150, .090. It is generally around .090-.120 but it varies significantly in a small area.
Not for sale.