06/16/2026
Dating to around 1493—the year Maximilian I became head of the Holy Roman Empire—this innovative sallet was likely crafted for the Emperor by the master armorer Lorenz Helmschmid. Its groundbreaking design features a falling buffe (chin defense) that pivots on the exact same points as the visor. By integrating these elements, this rare transitional piece directly anticipates the development of the fully enclosed close helmets that would come to dominate European warfare by 1510.