Falling Buffe

Kolman Helmschmid

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

This type of face defense is called a falling buffe because its segments can be collapsed downward to allow for easier breathing and greater visability, or locked in an upright position to fully protect the face. It was probably made by the celebrated Augsburg armorer Kolman Helmschmid in about 1525 and is very similar in form and decoration to another helmet in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, also attributed to Helmschmid, which is a type known as a closed burgonet (accession number 27.159.18). Both that helmet and this buffe came from the armory of the Dos Aguas family in Valencia, Spain.

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