Sallet

This Milanese sallet (a type of helmet lacking a crest) was altered in the past by cutting away the cheek-pieces and lining it with garnet-red velvet (removed during restoration in 1971) to evoke the Venetian parade sallets, presented to the podestà and the capitani di Terraferma of the Venetian Republic. Originally it would have had the typical inverted U-shaped opening. Engraved in it are the maker’s marks: “IO” (= “Ioan” Giovanni) crowned, and “RS” with a cross, indicating Milanese artisans.