I thought I would post a few teaser pics, and give a review of Patrick Thadens work. Over two years ago I contacted Patrick, with the intent on undertaking a speculative reconstruction of an early sallet, a developmental step between bascinet and sallet in North Western Europe.

I contacted Patrick in particular about the project, for a number of reasons. He has a lot of hands on time, and experience with seeing (up close and personal) most of the significant collections and pieces in Europe and the US (and Turkey, and pretty much around the world). He has a great eye, he uses the historical techniques which great reconstructions must use, and best yet, he has the vision to see what I was going for as we researched and discussed the project, and was willing to undertake what was a difficult project.

The reason for any dely in the project coming to fruition was twofold, and both derived from my end - I wanted to research the project thoroughly, as it is intended for an article in the ARS journal, and I needed to get all my funds together for it. This is the end result - what we have coined a bascinet-visored sallet, of circa 1460 (examples are found in art of Flanders and Northern France from circa 1420, to 1470 or thereabouts). I believe it represents a final transitional stage to the more familiar sallet - but if you want to read all the research, see the pretty period pictures, and extant museum examples, you will have to read the ARS Journal, 2006, when it is published, or read a shorter online article, with pretty pictures when you join the Armour Research Society, to go online in the immediate future.

The helmet is raised out of 1050, the finish is black. It is lined with a historical liner, and correct in every particular regarding detail. It has an accompanying small bevor of conventional form, consisting of a chinpiece, and a dependant lame. The helmet is intentionally dfferentially thickened, the brow being 4.3mm thick, the tail being 1.3 or so.

Patrick is both a supurb craftsman, and an excellent businessman. He has been incredibly responsive, and is very good regarding speed of construction and delivery time. He has provided me with a log of contruction pics, for use in the upcoming article. The hat was a flat piece of metal at the begining of December, and the project was finished by the end of January, and that with Patrick working around a very busy personal schedule.

I can't reccomend Patrick more highly, and this project was worth every penny.

[ 02-13-2005: Message edited by: chef de chambre ]

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It's wonderful to see thorough research being turned into armour by a competent craftsman.

I look forward to the article.

What is the weight of your helmet?

François

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