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French, about 1460. Collection: the late Baron Ferdinand Rothschild, British Museum

In the Rotunda, Woolwich

It will be noticed that across the skull-piece, immediately above the forehead, is applied a plate, the upper edge of which is escalloped. This may have been done to reinforce the helmet, or possibly to lend it the appearance of having a pivoted visor. There is in the Tower Armoury another such salade; but it is a less satisfactory specimen, having suffered from rough handling and over-cleaning. A salade of almost similar form, and, we imagine, the work of the same armourer, forms part of the original armoury of the arsenal of Venice (Fig. 374). In our opinion it was this form of salade that found favour with the unmounted knight, the head-piece being light, of good protective quality at the back, and of small proportions. It could be worn alike with the standard of mail and bevor, or even when the face was unprotected, a fashion that was much in vogue for combats on foot. The French gallant and great champion of his day, Jacques de Lalain, greatly favoured the little salade, and did much to make it popular, especially for combats on foot in the champ clos. In the early days of his fighting the bascinet helmet was his head-piece; but he fought "sans visière et à visage
 * coloured surface and studded with hemispherical headed rivets of a large size.