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 Halle. Judging, however, from a first impression we should say that the authenticity of the last mentioned bascinet is not above suspicion.

Zenghaus, Berlin

Collection: Signor S. Bardini, Florence

To come to Italy, the Royal Armoury at Turin possesses three specimens; while a fine visor of a bascinet, though of the type hinged above the forehead, is in the Bargello Museum of Florence. In Florence, too, there is a specimen belonging to the antiquary, Signor S. Bardini; this, however, is much corroded, and the visor, although an almost contemporary addition, is, as will be seen (Fig. 296), of the crudest form. In Rome the private collection of Prince Ladislaus Odescalchi can show a very fine complete bascinet with the snouted visor. Two of the finest bascinets in existence are preserved in the Schloss Churburg, belonging to Graf. G. Trapp, whose marvellous collection of inherited treasures continues to remain involved in a mystery unfathomed by the outer world. The existence of these helmets only came to our knowledge through an old and discoloured photograph surreptitiously made about thirty years ago. The two bascinets were taken side by side, and are apparently sister helmets of identical make. They are a wonderful pair, complete in all their detail, and enriched with borders of gilded brass bearing mottoes laudatory of certain famous beauties. With them are their contemporary bell-cuffed gauntlets. There is, in this wonderful castle, another bascinet even more astonishing; the visor is made in the curious form of two hinged doors opening down the middle of the face. It would appear to be of German fashion, of the closing years of the XIVth century; but unfortunately we could not even get drawings, much less obtain