HE 01.1 Bascinet

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

The bascinet is an evolutionary development of the simple skull cap defense known as the cerveliere. The cerveliere was usually worn under but also sometimes on top of a chain mail head covering known as a coif. Examples of the cervelier are frequently seen on effigies of the 13th Century. See the discussion by Sir Guy Francis Laking in his monumental work, "A Record of European Armour and Arms, 1920, Volume I. Laking commences with a discussion of the development of the cerveliere starting at Page 111 and including illustrated examples on a tomb effigy of 1230 at figure 134, a sketch by Violett-le-Duc at figure 136 and an effigy dated to about 1275 at figure 137.

The bascinet or "beckenhaube" in the form as we know it today represents a distinct step forward in development and was a true helmet with protection for the side and back of the head. In form it is very similar to and clearly the forerunner of the Barbute or Venetian Sallet but is differentiated by having the top of the skull come to a point or apex rather than the evenly rounded top of the Barbute or Venetian Sallet. The true bascinet shows up as early as 1325. See "A Record of European Armour and Arms, by Laking, Volume 1, figure 183 at page 148 showing this type of pointed apex bascinet on a monument brass of about 1325. Also beginning on page 150 is a discussion of Edward, Prince of Wales, the Black Prince who died in 1372. The stone effigy on his monument was done in 1376 and is considered to be a very accurate rendition of the fighting armour of the Black Prince. This effigy shows him wearing a somewhat less pointed top bascinet which is very similar to our example. Laking devotes Chapter VIII commencing at page 225 to a history of the development of the bascinet using that term in a broad sense to describe all hemispherical helmets of the cerveliere type through the visored pig nose bascinet and into the beginning of the full head cover helm type.

OBJECT DESCRIPTION

The helmet depicted here is an early and rare example of the true bascinet. An example of the early armourers skill the entire helmet is forged from one piece of steel. This particular bascinet is especially noteworthy in that it bears the maker mark of Tomaso Missaglia, the founder of the famed Missaglia atelier or workshop of Milan. Graceful in form it fits the head well and clearly is the direct predecessor of the famous and highly sought after Barbutes or Venetian Sallets.

A hallmark of the early and true bascinet form seen in this helmet is that the back neck nape area rises vertically from the lower edge rather than flaring outward at the nape as is seen in the later barbute form. Another early hallmark is that the top of the skull rises to a pronounced apex rather than following the later rounded top of the Barbute and Venetian Sallet. For a further discussion of these early characteristics of the true bascinet, see the reference below by Leonid Tarassuk and Claude Blair.

The bascinet skull flares slightly at the mid point, rounding gracefully to the center apex and with a well defined central ridge from the center of the facial opening to the apex. The central ridge then continues down the back center where it disappears into the rounded back at the mid point. The facial area is open for a width of about 5 !/2" and then closing in a rounded form just above the eyebrow level.

The entire circumference of the bottom and front edges is bordered by a row of punched holes about 1/8" in diameter and spaced about 5/8" apart. These would have been for the attachment of an inner lining and pad to comfortably support the helmet and to cause it to fit properly. The bottom of the helmet also has another set of larger punched holes about 3/16" in diameter and spaced about 2 1/4" apart. Contemporary effigy and other pictorial examples would indicate that this was for the attachment of a chain mail aventail to protect the shoulders and neck area.

ARMOURER'S MARK

This bascinet is clearly stamped with an armourer's mark at the back of the helmet just to the left of the center line and about 1 1/2" above the bottom. The mark is what is commonly referred to as a split cross with the letter M under the legs of the split cross. The split cross mark is the mark of the renowned Missaglia family of armourers. The letter M between the legs of the split cross is the early mark attributed to Tomaso Missaglia, the first of the Missaglia armourers of Milan.

This exact same mark is found on the buffe or wrapper of an armet in the Metropolitan Museum. The Metropolitan dates this buffe part of the Armet as circa 1450 with the main armet being associated and 1460-1470. See European Helmets, 1450-1650, Treasures from the Reserve Collection of the Metropolitan Museum, 2000, by Stuart W. Pyhrr. where this armet and associated wrapper are listed as number 15 and described and illustrated at page 13. Stuart W. Pyhrr of the Metropolitan Museum states that this mark with the single M under the split cross is the mark used by the Missaglia family of Milan before 1452.

Various marks of the Missaglia family are also shown and described in "The Armoury of the Castle of Churburg", which describes the collection of the Trapp family, originally published in 1929 and written by Oswald Graf Trap. The armourers marks are pictured at the end of the book with the Missaglia marks commencing at page 302. The early version of the Missaglia mark of a split cross over an M can be seen on pages 305 and 306, marks 21, 30, 33 and 35. Mark 21, illustrated and described at page 46, appears on a heavy helm, CH 19, made by the Missaglia workshop for Vogt Ulrich of Matsch, Count of Kirchberg. The helm is illustrated on plate XXI and is dated as circa 1450. Mark 30 is found on the right gauntlet of a field armor, CH 20, also circa 1450 with the mark illustrated and discussed on page 53. Mark 33, illustrated and described at page 58, is marked on almost all parts of the circa 1450 armour, CH 21, pictured on plate XXIV, made by the Missaglias for the Count Galeazzo Da Arco. Mario Scalini in his 1996 supplement to the 1929 catalog states on page 70 that these are the marks of Tomaso Missaglia, the first of the family armorers. Mark 35, illustrated and described at page 59 is found twice on the barbute helmet of the CO 2l armour.

REFERENCES

See the Galerie Fischer Sales Catalog, sale 386, September 11-13, 2003, where this exact helmet, lot number 341, described as Italian about 1400, is shown in a full page illustration on plate IV and described at page 32.

See also "The Complete Enclopedia of Arms and Weapons", 1979, by Leonid Tarassuk and Claude Blair where the barbute in its earliest form (defined above as the bascinet) is described as having an ogival skull rising to a pronounced apex and with the lower back part of the helmet almost vertical or only flaring slightly at the nape.

See also "Arms and Armour Essays by Stephen V. Grancsay", 1986, a compiled volume of republished Metropolitan Museum Arms and Armour bulletins by Grancsay. Bulletin 113 is primarily devoted to the slightly later barbute, but traces the development from the Norman casque through the bascinet and onward through the sallet. In particular note the excellent line drawings showing the developmental changes in form of these helmets, including the bascinet, on page 498.

PROVENANCE

Galerie Fischer Auktionen, 19 Haldenstrasse, Luzerne, Switzerland, Arms and Armour Sale, September 11, 2003, Lot 341, to Castlerock.