NOBLE DECORATION

All forms of helmet were at times painted, either all over or sometimes with bands, squares or devices. Early conical helmets might be studded with precious stones for the rich. From about 1300, basinets (and latterly sallets and armets) were often elaborately mounted in gold, silver, copper-gilt or copper-alloy, and some of these mounts were enamelled or jewelled. Steel could be burnished bright or be blued or blackened by heating.

For parades and tournaments some 15thcentury Italian sallets were covered in colourful textiles mounted with decorative metal appliqués, especially in Venice, hence the term ‘in the Venetian style’.

A north Italian sallet covered in red velvet, with gilt rivets and fleur-de-lys decoration, from about 1470. Royal Armouries Museum