Camail, aventail, untreated, flat rings – round rivets, 8 mm

Product description

Around 1320, the camail emerged — a chainmail collar that was attached to the lower edge of the bascinet helmet and provided protection for the wearer's neck. Camails featured a leather strip along the top edge, in which holes could be made to insert the vervelles (metal pins) of the helmet. A leather or waxed cord was then threaded through the vervelles, securing the camail like a collar beneath the helmet. The chainmail of these collars was often attached to a padded gambeson collar, offering additional neck protection and greater comfort. Camails were commonly worn until the mid-15th century.

This model of aventail was frequently worn during the Middle Ages, combined with bascinets amongst other helmets. Examples can be found at, amongst others, the Wallace Collection in London.

The aventail is constructed from 1.6 mm thick flat rings with an inner diameter of 8 mm. These are woven four-in-one and subsequently riveted with round rivets. The aventail may be attached to the helmet by means of a 4.5 cm wide leather edge at the top. It weighs approximately 2.8 kg.