Burgonet
Dateearly 1600s
Mediumsteel and iron with black paint and traces of leather
Dimensions29.2 × 22.9 × 30.5 cm (11 1/2 × 9 × 12 in.), 3 lb 4 oz (weight)
ClassificationsArms and Armor
MarkingsTerminal lame of fauld has a re-struck, single "antler" mark of Wurttemberg to left of fork on inner face; another antler on lowest (6th ) lame of both tassets; right inside of breast with black-painted letters "VK" (?) ; "V"-shaped nicks and serial dots throughout.
Credit LineThe John Woodman Higgins Armory Collection
Object number2014.1144.1
DescriptionOpen-faced burgonet with skull of two halves, the right overlapping that of the left along the plain comb of medium height, and riveted at the brow and nape. The comb is transversely pierced with a single punched hole at mid-and three-quarters length. The sides of the comb are embossed in the so-called "wave" pattern, the "crests" having swollen, comma-like terminals. Centered on either side of the skull is a large, white lily, the form of which appears to be of "Brunswick" influence (cf. figs. 22, 24 of Fanger). Encircling the edges of the skull is a row of nine slightly-domed rivets with irregularly-octagonal iron washers, for the liner now lacking, save fragments of the leather lining band.
The pointed, fixed fall is of a separate piece, and is retained along the inner edge by the anterior set of lining rivets. This is decorated as the comb, but with an inverted tear-drop-shaped embossing at the medial line. The base of the skull is fitted for a plume-pipe (now lost, the holes filled), and has an off-center rectangular, transverse rough slot below.
Riveted to the basal flange at the outside, is a single, plain restored neck lame with hollow, plain edge. The internal edge of the flange shows four vacant older holes, that probably retained articulating leathers for the lames below.
The large cheekpieces have hinges (right restored) at their upper rear edges, and are pierced for hearing: the left with five punched holes in a cross pattern, the right with eight in a circle around a centered ninth. The cheekpieces are not a pair: that at the left is decorated en suite with the skull and is bordered with five slightly differing lining rivets (that retaining the modern leather closure tab is itself modern). The anterior and basal edges of this, and the fall, are plain and roughly turned inward, without a core.
The right cheekpiece, while old and of generally similar form, is different in its decoration and is similar to that of a number of Nuremberg-marked burgonets. The anterior edge seems to have been cut back slightly (as is the upper rear), and is unfinished; this and the basal edge are bordered with a wide, raised white band, that at the basal edge having a medium width, deep sunken band isolating it from the inwardly turned, file-roped edge. The circular area produced by the auditory holes is polished bright. The mounting holes for the restored hinge have been reworked. Two original lining-rivets remain at the posterior edge; the three along the basal edge are later replacements. The lower inner edge is punch-marked with two obliquely-aligned-dots.
Label TextPaint was often used to decorate armor; like blueing, it had the additional benefit of providing protection against rust. The black-and-white style was characteristic of northern Germany, and common for ordinary armors. This suit would have been worn by a heavy infantryman armed with a pike or other staff weapon.Provenance(Possibly) ex-S.J. Whawell Collection, lot 382 (p. 67) 5 May 1927 sale at Sotheby's Theodore Offerman. Purchased by John W. Higgins on 27 September 1927 from Theodore Offerman (of New York Galleries). Given to the Higgins Armory Museum on 15 December 1931. Collection transfer from Higgins Armory, Janaury 2014.
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