Sallet Helmet, c.1480 (steel, iron & leather)

Characterized by their horizontal profile and long pointed tail, helmets known as sallets cover the upper half of the face. They were often supplemented with a bevor, a separate guard that protected the chin and throat. This helmet was beaten from one large sheet of metal, requiring great skill and finesse to hammer the smooth sweeping form. The pristine curve of its surface deflects weapons and, pierced with a vision slit, the sallet exudes a mysterious, masklike presence. Although a helmet was only one element of a knight's armor, it was the crowning glory of military garb, and its form, construction, and decoration provide clues to its use, date, and place of manufacture. Probably made in Innsbruck, Austria or possibly Mühlau, Saxony, Germany