Page:A record of European armour and arms through seven centuries (Volume 2).djvu/201

 and visor are stunted in shape, and the workmanship is ragged and careless. The breathing holes are unevenly placed and crudely fashioned. The chin-*piece somewhat redeems the helm; but the large hemispherically-headed brass rivets are probably not original. On the extending gorget plate on either side are large circular holes, through which passed the staples that attached the helm to the breastplate.

For tournament use against the mace or wooden sword. Probably German (Saxon), early XVIth century

Formerly in the collection of Herr J. M Soyter, Augsburg

For tournament use against the mace or wooden sword. German, early XVIth century

Imperial Armoury, Vienna

A rare form of tournament helmet or helm can be seen in those head-*pieces which can only have served as the defence against some blunt instrument such as the mace or even the wooden sword. In the present writer's opinion these particular tournament helms come almost within the category of padded fencing apparel, and have not sufficient dignity to be classed as armour in the true sense of the word; but as real examples are very rare, and as countless forgeries exist, more especially in foreign collections, it is our intention to illustrate two genuine examples. The first (Fig. 501) is believed to be still in a private collection, and, being of iron, is more legitimately a helm than the other example. At a first glance, the helmet of the diver suggests itself, the skull-piece being spheroidal and the very salient visor