Burgonet: HEN.M.87-1933

Maker(s)

Production: Unknown

Entities

• Burgonet

Categories

• Armour

Description

Burgonet, for light cavalry use, decorated in the 'black and white' fashion. Formed of a two-piece skull with an integral peak and neck-defence, and a pair of hinged cheek-pieces. The rounded skull is made in two halves joined along the crest of a fairly high medial comb by a turn to the left, and along the centres of the peak and neck-defence by riveted overlaps. Each overlap is secured by a pair of externally-flush rivets. The lower rivet of the neck-defence is missing. A later wiring-hole has been pierced just to the left of it. The peak and neck-defence both have curved edges projecting to an obtuse central point. The point of the neck-defence has been damaged. The lower front edge of the skull is cut away in a large arch at each side to accommodate the cheek-pieces. The apex of each arch is cut with a shallow, rectangular notch to accommodate the hinge of the cheek-piece. The skull is fitted with six lining-rivets around the brow and a further six around the nape. All are of round-headed form except for the outer two at the brow, which are externally-flush to allow the overlap of the cheek-pieces. The cheek-pieces are attached to the skull by plain, internal hinges with cropped corners, secured by pairs of round-headed rivets. The left hinge and its rivets are modern replacements. The front and lower edges of the cheek-pieces are very slightly convex. The lower edges are flanged outwards to form a continuation of the neck-defence. The upper and rear edges curve in to a straight section at the hinge. The centre of each cheek-piece is decorated with a single, round-headed rivet. Attached within the lower front corner of the left cheek-piece by a modern, externally-flush rivet is a modern, single-ended, tongued, iron buckle with a rectangular loop and plain hasp, which engages a modern leather strap attached by a further modern, externally-flush rivet within the lower front corner of the right cheek-piece. The main edges of the peak, the cheek-pieces and the neck-defence have plain, inward turns accompanied by a narrow groove and a raised border. Raised bands, which flare distally where they merge with the border, decorate the centre of the peak and neck-defence. A broad, raised band decorates each side of the skull, and a narrower raised band decorates the upper and rear edges of each cheek-piece. The crest of the comb is decorated at each side with a narrow groove matching that of the main edges.

Notes

History note: Mr James Stewart Henderson of 'Abbotsford', Downs Road, St Helen's Park, Hastings, Sussex.

Legal notes

J.S. Henderson Bequest

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Bequeathed (1933-03-16) by Henderson, James Stewart

Dating

17th Century, Early#
Circa 1600 CE - 1610 CE

Note

South German

The helmet has a 'black from the hammer' finish, now extensively worn and oxidised to a russet colour in parts, with a bright comb, bands and borders showing a medium pitting and patination. The surface of the helmet shows evidence of the delamination of the metal at many points.