13th century kettle hat, 1.6 mm

Product description

Kettle hats like this one appeared during the Crusades, around the late 12th to early 13th century. This type of helmet may have been adopted from Byzantine armies, who wore similar helmets in a longer style. They were worn alongside nasal helmets. Like spangenhelmets, these helmets were made from multiple pieces. This style remained in use until the early 14th century, and various versions are depicted in the Maciejowski Bible from 1250.

Multi-piece kettle hats were ideal for infantry: they could be produced cheaply and repaired during campaigns. This type of helmet was so effective that even aristocrats wore it. The wide brim provided protection against downward strikes and projectiles. The helmet offered excellent visibility, good hearing, and optimal protection.

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, deflecting projectiles from above and reducing the impact on both the helmet and the wearer’s head.

This kettle hat is based on an illustration from 1230 of an infantryman depicted by Villard de Honnecourt, who lived in the 13th century in the Picardy region of northern France. In the illustration, the soldier also wears a hauberk, knee guards, and an over-tunic.

The helmet is made from 2 mm thick steel and features a wide brim that offers extra protection against projectiles. It weighs approximately 1.8 kg and includes a leather liner and chin strap. It fits a maximum head circumference of 61 cm.