Barbute

Original 15th-century barbute of the T-shaped design from the Philadelphia Museum of Art's Kretzschmar von Kienbusch Collection of arms and armour

A modern reconstruction based on the Y-shaped barbute design

A barbute (termed a barbuta in Italian) is a visorless war helmet of 15th-century Italian design, often with distinctive "T" shaped or "Y" shaped opening for the eyes and mouth. The name is first recorded in an inventory made for the Gonzaga family of Mantua in 1407. It can be considered as a specialised form of the sallet. The barbute resembles classical Greek helmets (most strikingly the Corinthian) and may have been influenced by the renewed interest in ancient artifacts common during this period.^[1]

Characteristics

The defining characteristic of the barbute is the helmet's downward extension, fully covering both sides of the user's face. Regardless of the type of opening, T-shaped, Y-shaped or arch-shaped, this characteristic was always present. This helmet design enabled the user to wear a gorget.^[2] In place of a plate gorget, the barbute was often worn with a stiffened mail collar, termed a "standard," which protected the throat and neck. In some examples, there is a central, narrow protrusion extending down from the top of the opening, designed to protect the wearer's nose. Sometimes, like Italian sallets, barbutes were covered by a rich decorative fabric, typically heavy velvet.

Unlike the sallet, the barbute seems to have enjoyed little popularity outside Italy.

The main differences between the barbute and the Greek hoplite's helm to which it is often compared is the difference in material and the lack of a prominent decorative crest. Ancient Greeks used bronze, while most barbutes were constructed of steel.

Barbutes were made most commonly from a single sheet of steel using the metal smithing process of raising until the piece assumed the desired shape.^[3] Many barbutes feature a low ridged crest forged into the top of the helmet's skull which served to strengthen the helmet without adding a significant amount of weight.

In Popular Culture

• In The Lord of the Rings film franchise, three armies give their soldiers barbutes: The Men of Gondor wear conical-topped steel ones featuring seagull wings subtly embossed out from the inside. The Elven troops of the Last Alliance (the High Elves of Middle-earth) wear gold barbutes with Corinthian-looking crests on top. Lastly, the Easterlings (Men of Rhun) wear three-horned dome helmets made of bronze with faceplates that resemble the faceplate of a barbute helmet with chin protection.
• The Star Wars characters, Boba Fett and Jango Fett, also wear helmets with a T-shaped visor that vaguely resembles a barbute, as do most other Mandalorians and Phase I Clonetroopers within the franchise.
• In Marvel Comic's X-Men, villain Magneto wears a specialized barbute to thwart psychic abilities that might be used against him.
• Warriors of Chaos in Warhammer Fantasy wear barbute style helms, typically decorated with horns.

References

1. Oakeshott, pp. 109-110
2. Leonello Boccia, Armi Italiane, Zanichelli, Bologna, 1966.
3. Quattro Secoli di Armi Bianche, I Documentari, Novara, 1973.

Bibliography

• Oakeshott, Ewart (1980) European Weapons and Armour: From the Renaissance to the Industrial Revolution. Lutterworth Press.