Recommended combination
Product description
The barbute is based on an original from the Wallace Collection in London.
The barbute is a type of sallet designed so that the wearer does not require a chainmail camail or other neck protection. Barbutes began to be developed from the early 15th century, with this particular style emerging in the second half of the 15th century. It resembles a sallet less than its predecessors and was likely heavily inspired by Greek Corinthian helmets from classical antiquity. During the Italian Renaissance, there was renewed interest in this period, which in the early 16th century even led to the all'antica armour style, influencing the development of plate armour.
The barbute features a T-shaped visor. The forward-projecting edges provide protection for the cheeks and face whilst leaving the field of vision unobstructed.
Barbutes were often crafted in Northern Italy, yet they were worn throughout 15th-century Europe. Northern Italian armourers produced large quantities of barbutes during this century.
