The armet was the typical helmet of Italian knights in the fifteenth century and one of the most technically advanced helmets of the late Middle Ages. Its construction fully enclosed the head, providing a high level of protection while maintaining mobility, which was essential both in mounted and foot combat, as well as in tournaments. It consisted of a smooth, compact, rounded skull, hinged cheekpieces closing under the chin, and a pivoting visor mounted on side pivots.
The armet was openable – equipped with a lifting faceplate and detachable cheekpieces, allowing the wearer to adjust the level of protection individually. The visor had a lifting peg on the side, which allowed it to be raised and lowered without grasping the edge of the metal plate. The peg made it easy to operate the visor even while wearing gauntlets and full armor, increasing comfort and enabling quick reactions in dynamic combat or tournament situations.
A characteristic feature of the armet à rondelle is the round metal plate at the back of the helmet, called a rondelle. This element appears in many surviving fifteenth-century armets and is considered an integral part of their construction. The rondelle protected a critical area at the rear of the helmet where straps and fastenings for additional protective elements, such as the bevor or neck plates, intersected. It shielded them from cuts, mechanical damage, and direct blows while stabilizing the attachment system and preventing straps from slipping during combat.
The presented model is based on the late form of the armet from the end of the fifteenth century (around 1490), when the design had reached its fully developed shape. Characteristic features of this period include an enlarged brow reinforcement and a compact, streamlined silhouette typical of Italian plate armor. These armets were a standard part of the equipment of knights fighting both on horseback and on foot, as well as in tournaments.
