Triple-Combed Open Burgonet
Dateabout 1550–1555
Mediumsteel with restored leather strap and buckle
Dimensions27.9 × 45.7 × 31.8 cm (11 × 18 × 12 1/2 in.), 4 lb 10 oz (weight)
ClassificationsArms and Armor
MarkingsOn the underside of the fall, near the medial line is a single punched dot. There are three similar dots on the flange of the right cheekpiece. A pair of incised lines, one nearly bisecting the other at an angle, is centered within the nape flange of the skull.
Credit LineThe John Woodman Higgins Armory Collection
Object number2014.1072
DescriptionDeep skull is of 1 piece of steel, drawn up into an engrailed central comb, with a similar, smaller comb nearly centered on either side. The skull has an integral fall which is pointed and upwardly angled. Base of skull is finished in narrow, slightly downturned basal flange that widens slightly as it curves across back of neck. Encircling base of skull above this is row of 7 rivets. Edges of fall & nape are inwardly turned over wire core & file-roped. Skull sides are deeply cut out & filled with associated, hinged cheekpieces. Two more rivets continue the lining-band across the cut-outs. The restored hinges are secured to the skull by a pair of domed rivets and three on the cheekpieces themselves.
Skull is turned outward in narrow, engrailed flange over hinge.
Cheekpieces are fairly deep, slightly outwardly rounded and drawn in at lower sides to downturned, integral flange below. Each cheekpiece is notched above to fill fall, & is straight-cut to point below. These are presently filled with modern rivets, rosettes & buckled leathers to secure cheeks closed. Basal edge of each turned & roped like fall & nape flange; other edges are slightly bevelled & plain.The bend of the flange and the fall and the auxillary combs is accented by a thin, incised line. Above this on the cheekpieces is a row of three modern lining-band rivets and washers, and another single rivet just to the rear of the notch above. At mid-face cheekpieces are pierced for hearing with 4 holes in an oblong pattern surrounding a fifth hole. Centered to either side of comb are 12 pairs of holes which extend in broad-spaced rows of three pair each front to rear. Three more pairs are punched into the fall leading edge, and a centered pair on the nape flange. Just above the bend of this on either side of the skull near the rear of the cheekpieces is a vertically-aligned keyhole-shaped slot. All of these orfices were for the attaching of a cloth cover over the skull (compare the example in the Museo Stibbert- see in additional notes).
Label TextThis helmet is part of a large group, now scattered worldwide, which must have been made to equip the bodyguard of some noted personage. The pairs of holes on the surface are for laces which secured a decorative fabric cover to the headpiece.ProvenanceClarence H. Mackay (Roslyn, L.I.)(#E-42) purchased for the Armory on 31 October 1941 from Hammer Galleries at Gimbel Brothers (NYC). Collection transfer from Higgins Armory, January 2014.
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