Cabasset late 16th c.
Almond shaped skull rising to a short stalk at the top, the base of the skull forming a narrow down-turned brim. Skull bordered by holes for lost lining rivets. Brim with narrow turned border.Blackened finish appears to be renewed.
Measurements:
Not for sale.
Cabasset late 16th c.
North Italian. One piece skull rising to a short flattened stalk at the top. Base of the skull with holes for lining rivets retaining 12 of these rivets (5 retaining brass caps) each with a brass washer embossed as a floret (retaining very small bits of a woven lining band and pieces of leather for the suspension of cheek plates) and a narrow downturned brim with a an inward turned roll and narrow recess. 21.5 cm tall. Provenance: Stated to be from the old Papal armory, now the Museo Storico Vaticano in the Lateran Palace, Rome. Then Fenton and Son, London by 1919.
Not for sale.
Cabasset late 16th c.
North Italian. One piece skull rising to a short flattened stalk at the top. Base of the skull with holes for lining rivets and a narrow downturned brim with a an inward turned roll and narrow recess. Originally ground and polished finish. Retains a grey surface color that may be the remains of an early blue/black finish. Additional hole at the back of the brim - these are usually assumed to be to hang the helmet from a wall, beam or post. 21.5 cm tall. Provenance: Stated to be from the old Papal armory, now the Museo Storico Vaticano in the Lateran Palace, Rome. Then Fenton and Son, London by 1919.
Not for sale.
Morion Cabasset circa 1580
Skull formed of one piece rising to a fine point at the top. Brim pointed front and back and rising to elegant points. The edge of the brim bordered by a small plain inward turned roll (over wire) bordered by a narrow recess. Retains lining rivets and a copper alloy plume holder. Lining rivets with domed heads on the outside capped with dapped copper alloy disks each with decorative rosette washers (two missing). Shows extensive light oxidation (now stable) and wear to the rivets and washers. The wear exposes the solder inside the dapped caps. There are signs of what is likely original grinding or filing at the base of the skull between and under the washers. There is one crack in the brim at the left rear. Near it there are other signs of lamination. The overall form is very elegant.
Measurements: weight: 3 pounds 3.6 ounces (1460g). thickness: skull generally around .070 in. but spots vary from .035 to .092. There isn't a lot of pattern to the thickness, it just changes from spot to spot. Measurements stop about 2 inches from the top, that is all I can check with the gauge. Brim averages to about .050, again with significant variation up to a little over .060 and down to .03.
Not for sale.
Cabasset circa 1590
Tall form, small stalk, narrow down turned brim. A line of 14 iron lining rivets (replaced) near the base of the skull. Two rivets at the back above the line of lining rivets likely formerly to secure a plume holder. Delaminations in the skull some of which have grown to form holes near the point. Apparent smooth finish with old oxide and browning varnish. Brim with a plain inward turned roll with a narrow recess.
Measurements: 7 3/4 in. tall brim 9 1/4 in. wide and 10 in. long. Weight 2 pounds 4.8 ounces (1045g). Thickness: varies significantly in the lower half that is easy to measure. Mostly .05-.06 in. but some areas as thin as .04 in. and some thicker areas up to .07. There seems to be little pattern to the variation.
Not for sale.
Cabasset circa 1590-1610
Almond shaped skull with small stalk at the top, central crease and narrow flat brim. Etched in the 'Pisan' fashion. Brim with inward turned roped border with a narrow recess. Just above the brim there is a line of original iron lining rivets - most retaining original brass caps with decorative washers. Some cloth lining band remaining between a few of the rivets. Point with a nice stalk, bent over to the back. Etched with 6 bands of trophies. Each side decorated with a central panel containing an armoured figure in antique style flanked by angels.
Not for sale.
Western European Cabasset circa 1600
Rounded bowl formed in one piece rising to a slight point at the center of the top. Creased along the center and with a small stalk bent backwards at the point. Narrow brim slightly down turned. Brim with inward turn and narrow recess at the edge. Bottom of the helmet bowl with holes for lining rivets. 14 holes. Helmet 7 1/4 inches tall. Inside of bowl 7 inches wide and 8 1/4 inches long. Brim app. 1 inch wide at the sides and app. 1 1/4 inches wide at the front and back point. Acid cleaned. All lining rivets missing. Originally smooth finish. The Royal Armouries bought one of this same series - IV.2018. It is marked with the purported Barberini mark, unlike this one which is unmarked. One of a very large series of morions from a hoard which were sold through Wallis and Wallis in small numbers from 1978 to 2003. The first such example appears to be 26-8 June 1978 lot 1354. This one sold 17 July 1996.
Not for sale.
Western European Cabasset circa 1600
Rounded bowl formed in one piece rising to a slight point at the center of the top. Creased along the center and with a small stalk bent backwards at the point. Narrow brim slightly down turned. Brim with inward turn and narrow recess at the edge. Bottom of the helmet bowl with holes for lining rivets. 14 holes. Helmet 7 1/4 inches tall. Inside of bowl 7 inches wide and 8 1/4 inches long. Brim app. 1 inch wide at the sides and app. 1 1/4 inches wide at the front and back point. All lining rivets missing. Originally smooth finish retaining some old color - this may be the remains of a blued finish. The Royal Armouries bought one of this same series - IV.2018. It is marked with the purported Barberini mark, unlike this one which is unmarked. One of a very large series of morions from a hoard which were sold through Wallis and Wallis in small numbers from 1978 to 2003. The first such example appears to be 26-8 June 1978 lot 1354. This one sold 17 July 1996.
Not for sale.
Cabasset circa 1600
German. With a tall rounded skull with a central crease. Narrow flat brim with inward turned edge. Rough from the hammer surface with original black finish. Retains two cheek plates. and a later copper alloy plume holder.
Not for sale.
Cabasset circa 1600
German. With a tall rounded skull with a central crease. Narrow flat brim with inward turned edge. Rough from the hammer surface with original black finish. Retains one cheek plate. and a later copper alloy plume holder. signs of delamination on the inside and outside. Small internal patch in one area of the brim. Edge of the brim turned over wire.
Weight: 2 pounds 1.4 ounces (950 g). Thickness generally varies between .030 in and .050 in. with areas thinner and thicker. Appears (if there is any pattern at all) to be thicker at the top and thinnest near the brim.
Not for sale.
Cabasset circa 1600
German. With a tall rounded skull with a central crease. Narrow flat brim with inward turned edge. Skull with extensive delaminatin. Brim with cracks and patches. Rough from the hammer surface with original black finish. retains a later iron plume holder. 7 1/4 in. tall.
Not for sale.
Cabasset circa 1600
German. High rounded skull with a flat brim. Brim with inward-turned edge. Later plume holder. Rough from the hammer with remains of blackened finish.
Not for sale.
Cabasset circa 1600
German. One piece skull of rounded almond shape with narrow flat integral brim coming to an obtuse point at the front and back. The edge of the brim formed with a simple inward turn. Retains two cheek plates and interior leather band. One cheek plate detatched at one side. Parts of the band torn though at the rivets. Cheek plates are small and nearly flat. Black, rough from the hammer surface.
Not for sale.
Cabasset circa 1600
Normal form, small stalk, narrow down turned brim. Heavy skull. Brim marked with a shield with three elements and surmounted by a crown. The mark appears to be the arms of Pope Urban VIII (Mafeo Barberini) 1623-44. The mark would indicate that it was in his armoury. Line of lining rivets with brass decorated washers (replaced) near the base of the skull. The discussion associated with Royal Armouries item number IV.2018 indicates that a large group of these, many of which have the same mark, came through Wallis and Wallis which are associated with a hoard of these found in the cellar of a house in Ireland. The RA description disputes the association of the mark with the Barberini and dates theirs to 1585-1599. This one may or may not have gone through that source. It was obtained later without provenance back to that group.
Measurements: weight 3 pounds 11.2 ounces (1680g). Thickness: Usual variation in thickness as expected. Relatively thick. Basically .09 in. to .10 in. with some areas thinning to .08 and some up to .105.
Exhibited: Feb. 10 2023-Feb. 29 2024 Orange County Historical Museum Hillsborough NC
Not for sale.
Cabasset circa 1600
North Italian. One piece skull rising to a short flattened stalk at the top. Base of the skull with holes for lining rivets and a narrow downturned brim with an inward turned roll and narrow recess. Two additional holes above the lining holes at the back for a (lost) plume holder. 18.5 cm tall. Originally ground and polished surface. Remains of what might be an original blue/black finish now turned grey. More oxidation and pitting at the back.
Not for sale.
Cabasset circa 1620-1640
a rare German or Austrian Cabasset with the original rivets and the very rarely found original lining intact. The lining is composed of a single layer of fabric with fiber padding between it and the helmet bowl. The lining is sewn to a leather strip that it riveted to the edge of the helmet bowl. This cabasset has a couple of dings and dents and a minor split in its two piece construction. It is missing the checkpieces as is nearly the case in all surviving helmets of this type. As mentioned, this helmet is of two piece construction placing it within the 17th century, probably crafted between 1600 and 1640. It is believed to be German and Austrian as it was part of a castle/stronghold arsenal sold by Archduke Eugen in the mid to late 1920s. As such it was relatively well maintained which is why the lining survived. As you know, given their fragile nature and being prone to soiling and vermin, such linings are uncommon. This one is of fustian - a fabric composed of a linen warp and cotton weft. It is stitched to a leather strap which is attached to the helmet bowl by the lining rivets. It is partly detached but is all there. There is a hole in the brim for hanging in the guardhouse and armory, and there are four holes in the side where a plume or heraldic badge was at one time affixed. Incredible that it survived.
Not for sale.