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Product description
Kettle hats like this one appeared during the Crusades, around the late 12th to early 13th century. Byzantine armies may have introduced this helmet style, wearing similar designs in a longer form. Soldiers wore them alongside nasal helmets. Like spangenhelmets, these helmets were built from multiple pieces. The style stayed in use until the early 14th century, and you can see various versions depicted in the Maciejowski Bible from 1250.
Multi-piece kettle hats were ideal for infantry — cheap to produce and easy to repair on campaign. This helmet proved so effective that even aristocrats wore it. The wide brim deflected downward strikes and projectiles, while the open face gave the wearer excellent visibility and good hearing.
By the early 14th century, the kettle hat evolved into more advanced forms made from a single piece of steel. The brim became more sloped, turning projectiles away from above and reducing impact on both the helmet and the wearer's head.
This kettle hat is based on a 1230 illustration of an infantryman by Villard de Honnecourt, who lived in the Picardy region of northern France. In the illustration, the soldier also wears a hauberk, knee guards, and an over-tunic.
Made from 2 mm thick steel, the helmet features a wide brim for extra protection against projectiles. It weighs about 1.8 kg and comes with a leather liner and chin strap. It fits a maximum head circumference of 61 cm.
