Sallet

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The term sallet (from the Italian celata) is applied to a wide variety of fifteenth-century helmets that have open faces or, if visored, leave the lower face and neck exposed. This tall form of sallet is typically Italian and is sometimes referred to as a barbute. It is struck twice on the right side at the back with the same armorer's mark: two Gothic letters ("SS" or "SZ") beneath a split-legged cross. Struck on the right cheek is the lion of Saint Mark, a control mark that perhaps denotes the helmet's former presence in the Venice arsenal.

Arms and Armor

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The principal goals of the Arms and Armor Department are to collect, preserve, research, publish, and exhibit distinguished examples representing the art of the armorer, swordsmith, and gunmaker. Arms and armor have been a vital part of virtually all cultures for thousands of years, pivotal not only in conquest and defense, but also in court pageantry and ceremonial events. Throughout time the best armor and weapons have represented the highest artistic and technical capabilities of the society and period in which they were made, forming a unique aspect of both art history and material culture.

Metropolitan Museum of Art