Bascinet
Unknown Artist
ca. 1325–50
Medium
Steel
Dimensions
H. 8 in. (20.3 cm); W. 7 1/2 in. (19.1 cm); D. 8 1/4 in. (21 cm); Wt. 2 lb. 6 oz. (1064 g)
Classification
Helmets
Culture
possibly Italian
Department
Arms and Armor
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bashford Dean Memorial Collection, Funds from various donors, 1929
Accession Number
29.158.44
Art Historical Context
Step into the clangor of 14th-century battlefields with this exquisite bascinet, a helmet dating to around 1325–50, possibly crafted in Italy. Measuring just 8 inches high and weighing a nimble 2 pounds 6 ounces, its compact form—7½ inches wide and 8¼ inches deep—was designed for the mounted knight, balancing fierce protection with essential mobility. Worn over a chainmail coif and often paired with a protective aventail skirt of mail, the bascinet marked a pivotal shift from earlier crested helms to more streamlined designs that hugged the skull. Forged from high-quality steel, this helmet e...