Product description
In the early 15th century, kettle hats with very wide brims, sometimes even incorporating a visor, began to appear in Germany. These helmets were often combined with a mail camail, a gorget, or a steel bevor. This type of helmet sometimes closely resembled a German variant of an early sallet, from which the German sallet was later developed. Helmets like these were primarily used in the Holy Roman Empire.
The sloping brims of this kettle hat help to reduce the impact of blows or projectiles on the helmet and the head. This type of helmet was so effective that even aristocrats wore it. The kettle hat can be worn either half on the head for optimal visibility or lowered over the eyes. The way it is worn closely resembles that of a sallet.
Although this type of kettle hat usually had a wider brim, there are examples with a narrower brim, such as this one. A kettle hat like this is depicted, for example, in the BNF Latin 512 Speculum humanae salvationis from 1410.
This helmet is approximately 28 cm high. The eye slits are about 7.5 cm long and 0.65 cm wide. It has an inner diameter of 68 cm (excluding the leather lining) and fits most head circumferences of approximately 58 to 61 cm. If you wish to wear additional padded protection, measure your head circumference while wearing it. The padded lining already attached inside the helmet is usually sufficient. To create more space inside the helmet, the lining can be removed.
