It gets no better than this!
Photos courtesy of F.J.A.G.
This is a “munitions” burgonet, circa 1580.
Untouched. Not even cleaned!
But… a “munitions,” (?) burgonet with a one piece skull, hammer raised by a Master Armourer.
Although from an armoury containing mostly “munitions quality” helmets, this one stands out.
It bears neither an armourers mark or a guild mark. But with work of this quality, why shouldhe bother to sign it, since back in those days the quality alone, would signal exactly who made it.
This is freehand sculpture in metal, of the very highest standard.
Dimensions:-
Front to back:- 11 and one quarter inches.
Width:- 8 inches.
Height:- 11 and one quarter inches.
Weight:- 3 lbs 12 ounces.
Right View.
Left View.
Front View.
Showing original lining.
Back View.
Top View.
Note the fine quality of the “roping.”
View from below back.
The line of that comb is just perfect!
And the broken leather strip is the original suspension for hanging the helmet on a peg!
Never seen that before.
There… you can see it better from the front below.
But just look at the line of this helmet in the photos below…. Incredible… and remember, this is a man working fast and freehand, on munitions work.
Not spending weeks, or even months, on the armour of some little Lord Fauntleroy, who wants a nice shiny suit to prance around in on parade day…. this really is a fighting man’s helmet. And anyone who has ever picked up a hammer and tried their hand at raising metal will appreciate just how difficult it is to achieve such an elegant balance of curves.
Armour, and fighting armour in particular, is quite probably the most difficult, and least appreciated form of Art metalwork. It also has to be superbly functional…. which parade armour although magnificent in its own right, for certain…. is not.
This burgonet is all about the curves of light playing upon metal, and the production of an elegant shape with few surfaces for a weapon to grip upon… in fact… almost early “stealth technology?”
See how the comb curves into the bowl? No ridge for a blade to gain purchase in… clever… don’t see that too often.
I’d love to know just who did make this one….
As you can see from the photo below…
The left cheek piece has been reworked after some battle damage.
Just beautiful… and in my own humble opinion, about as good as it ever gets.
Those of you who regularly follow this blog, will no doubt have noted the similarity to the “Howard Curtis” Burgonet of The “Steel Bonnet” post 5. (10/3/13.)… Same hand…. possibly?…. Same School… Maybe?
Why not go have another look, and make your own minds up!
The “Howard Curtis” Burgonet… similar?
….Fabulous though, aren’t they..?
CLAN CARRUTHERS SOCIETY (USA) 