Cabasset, 1550-1625

A cabasset is a type of helmet used in Europe by infantry and light cavalry from the first half of the 16th century until the 17th century. The name comes from the Spanish word capacete, meaning "little hat", or the Spanish word cabeza, meaning "head". The cabasset was developed with the morion of the medieval steel helmet. The pear-shaped cabasset does not have a wide edge or straight comb and differs from the morion in this respect. The cabasset was preferably made of a single steel plate. Lower quality models were made of two pieces of steel riveted together; this often concerns later models. This blackened helmet is hammered from a single plate and measures 22cm high, the largest diameter is 27cm.