Armets, Visor helmets

Typical European horse helmet of the sixteenth century, worn by men-usually in combination with full armor. Equipped with movable visor slit for the eyes, a fan mounted on a swivel and has holes for ventilation, as well as to barbozza opened. Made entirely of iron, handmade and wearable. Made in Italy. The typical armet consisted of four pieces: the skull, the two large hinged cheek-pieces which locked at the front over the chin, and a visor which had a double pivot, one either side of the skull. The cheek-pieces opened laterally; when closed they overlapped at the chin, fastening by means of a spring-pin which engaged in a corresponding hole, or by a swivel-hook and pierced staple. A multi-part reinforcement for the bottom half of the face, known as a wrapper, was sometimes added; its straps were protected by a metal disc at the base of the skull piece called a rondel. The visor attached to each pivot via hinges with removable pins, as in the later examples of the bascinet .