"A helmet supposed to be that of Attila; it stands in the gallery of the Council of Ten." It is evident, however, that he was not sure of his facts, as in the same work he refers to the helmet now numbered E 2 under the description: "Iron hat reputed to be that of Attila, king of the Huns; it stands in the Arsenal in Venice." The helmet is a wonderful tour d'adresse of the armourer's art, though to some it may not be a thing of beauty; indeed, it has been compared with the steam dome on a locomotive, as the plate corresponding with the chain camail, together with the skull-piece of the helmet, are entirely forged from the same piece of iron. The snouted visor alone is a separate plate. Around the base of the skull-piece and running over the forehead is a series of holes for retaining the lining. This Venetian helmet is thick in the requisite parts, though not unduly heavy, and is a fine head defence; but once the head was inside, movement must have been difficult, for the wearer was restricted to a view of what was only directly in front of him. There is a poor forgery of such a bascinet in the Tower of London.
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Fig. 301. Skull-piece of a "great" bascinet helmet
Possibly English, early years of the XVth century. Aldborough Church, Holderness, Yorks
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Fig. 302. Skull-piece of a "great" bascinet helmet
Possibly English, early years of the XVth century. Norwich Castle Museum
More like the Venetian "great" bascinet than any other with which we
