Helmbrünne

Historical depiction of a helmet on the tomb of Edward of Woodstock from 1376

Instructions on how to attach a helmet fountain to the helmet (here a pool hood)

A helmet well (also chain well ) is a medieval chain mesh that was attached to the lower edge of a helmet to protect the neck and shoulders.

description

The chain well consisted of iron rings that were riveted into a chain mesh. An approximately 4.5 cm wide leather strip was sewn onto the upper edge of this chain mesh. The leather strip and the lower edge of the helmet were provided with holes through which fasteners were attached. The chain mesh was either circular or jagged at the bottom. Ornate specimens were also made, which were provided with brass or bronze edges. The weight of a chain well was about 3.5 kg.

history

The chain well was most common in the 14th century with basin hoods (and their variants such as the Hundsgugel ) and replaced the chain hood in the late 15th century . But it has also been used on older types of helmets such as nasal , pot and bucket helmets .

literature

• Hermann Alexander Müller: Illustrirtes archaeological dictionary of the art of Germanic antiquity: the Middle Ages and the Renaissance . Verlag Otto Spamer, 1877, p. 516.