Tournament Sallet (Rennhut) with Buffe
c. 1570/1600
Medium
Steel, iron, brass, and leather
Dimensions
H.: 47 cm (18 1/2 in.)
Classification
suit-helmet
Department
Applied Arts of Europe
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
106357
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
This type of helmet, called a sallet, was part of a complete jousting armor. Its buffe (lower face and neck guard) would be bolted down over the breastplate to bolster the jouster against heavy blows from an opponent’s lance. The ensemble formed part of a group of locally made jousting armors that stocked the Duke of Saxony’s armory. Members of the duke’s court used them on festive occasions. Records show that they continued to be used for over three hundred years, long after most courts had aba...
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...