Sallet

Culture Spanish

Cultureor Italian

Dateabout 1450

Mediumsteel

Dimensions16.5 × 17 × 21 cm (6 1/2 × 6 11/16 × 8 1/4 in.), 4 lb 4 oz (weight)

ClassificationsArms and Armor

Credit LineThe John Woodman Higgins Armory Collection

Terms

Object number2014.1062

DescriptionA very substantial defense, formed of one piece of thick steel, it is rounded and well-shaped to fit the skull. The bowl is without comb and extends deeply at the sides where it is cut out with trapezoidal openings for the ears. The plain basal edge rises in a low arch along the brow where it develops a near-imperceptible pendant rounded cusp at the medial line. The rear of the bowl bulges out roundedly over the back of the head, and is waisted below the occiput where it becomes a short, vertical tail.

A series of 23 punched lining holes follows the periphery of the basal edge and ear openings in a single row. Just to the rear and left of center the top of the bowl is pierced by a single, punched hole; this does not seem to have been for a panache, but is old, and may indicate that the piece had been suspended as part of a funerary achievment.

Made of very heavy iron, thinning toward the lower edge, though part of the rear lower edge is still very thick. The metal shows cracking and delamination. There is a patched repair, possibly old, forward of the left ear. Overall shape is roughly hemispherical, with an occipital bulge around the back and cutouts for the ears. There is a slight downward peak in the edge above the middle of the face. All of these features match very well the type described and illustrated in Blair.

The ear cutouts are coarse compared to the overall shape, and with the vestigial appearance of the mid-brow cusp, one wonders whether the piece might not have been cut down.

There are holes for lining rivets all around the lower edge, and a single drilled hole at the top of the skull. Subtle denting in the area around this hole, and the partially abraded surface in this area on the inside, suggest that dents have been hammered out from inside in modern times. There are also trace gouges on the outside, mostly short lines of about 1/2" long, that are possible battle damage (from swords?).

Possible traces of paint inside.
Label TextHead defenses such as this were especially popular with Spanish foot soldiers and are probably those listed as celadas in sixteenth century colonial American inventories. Similar helmets would have been worn by many of Cortés’ veterans during the invasion of Mexico in 1519.ProvenanceFortress of Chalcis Bashford Dean Purchased by Museum on July 18, 1939 from Jacques Seligmann & Co. (NYC), agents for the estate of Clarence H. Mackay (Roslyn, L.I.), his number #E45. Collection transfer from Higgins Armory, January 2014.

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