Burgonet: Solothurn arsenal number?

AHorsa · 21st January 2025, 09:15 PM

Hi,

I recently got this burgonet from around 1610/1620. It has an arsenal inventory number on the right cheekplate. I have seen two helmets with similar numbers from Solothurn arsenals (e.g.: https://european-armour.com/A-5.html). Does anyone know if this Solothurn arsenal inventory number as well?

Thanks and best regards
Andreas

Victrix · 21st January 2025, 10:16 PM

Congratulations on your burgonet! I love the patina and sheen on that piece. Old steel is so beautiful!

My schischagge has numbers on it but I think they are for numbering the parts in the workshop. Your looks more like an arsenal number.

AHorsa · 22nd January 2025, 07:45 AM

Thank you Victrix!
Indeed this one has markings on every parts as well in form of four stripes. I think this is also a numberung from the workshop while the xx33 is from the arsenal

cornelistromp · 23rd January 2025, 01:49 PM

the solothurn numbers start with SO-xxx (x is a number). The threes on your burgonet look however the same as an inventory number (next to the SO number) on a Solothurn burgonet, see photo of MAZ 00249-26 SO-177 B-30.
the 33 is an old arsenal inventory number.

AHorsa · 23rd January 2025, 02:02 PM

Thank you Jasper, fantastic! It is exactly the same "3"! I don't know how far these old stamps vary - is it possible that this very stamp wwas used for my helmet as well or was it a common form of "3" and is just from a similar stamp set?
Can you tell the name of the book?

Here is one from Solothurn which - on the same position as mine - shows a "× 126":

https://european-armour.com/images/A-5.jpg

So at least we can say that the marked on this position and used this remarkable "3" as well as the "x"

Best regards
Andreas

cornelistromp · 23rd January 2025, 05:58 PM

Welcome.

hard to say if it is the same stamp but I don't think it's an ordinary 3.
The book is Zwischen Politik und krieg kunstsammlungen der veste coburg.

best
Jasper

AHorsa · 23rd January 2025, 09:28 PM

Thank you!

I browsed the online collection of the Altes Zeughaus in Solothurn and under MAZ 255-11 there is a very similar helmet. I assume from the same workshop. Even the decoration on the cheekplates und the neck guard is the same but in better condition (s. attached image of mine). And a number "R 17" at the same position as the XX33 on mine. I somehow have the feeling that there is a connection. Maybe it was in the Zeughaus before they started to stamp the SO-number? Who knows. I wrote them an email. Am excited if / what they reply.

BR
Andreas

AHorsa · 4th February 2025, 08:16 PM

I meanwhile got a reply from Solothurn. They say it is pretty similar to some of their Burgonet but as it do not have the SO number, one can not be sure that it was in this armoury. They stamped from the 1830ies until the 1870ies. In 1607 the armoury bought 200 pieces of armour from Nürnberg. It is possible that it is from this group and left Solothurn before the stamping.

21st January 2025, 09:15 PM	#1
AHorsa Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: Rhineland Posts: 373	Burgonet: Solothurn arsenal number? Hi, I recently got this burgonet from around 1610/1620. It has an arsenal inventory number on the right cheekplate. I have seen two helmets with similar numbers from Solothurn arsenals (e.g.: https://european-armour.com/A-5.html). Does anyone know if this Solothurn arsenal inventory number as well? Thanks and best regards Andreas Attached Images Last edited by AHorsa; 21st January 2025 at 09:32 PM.

23rd January 2025, 01:49 PM	#4
cornelistromp Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 1,060	the solothurn numbers start with SO-xxx (x is a number). The threes on your burgonet look however the same as an inventory number (next to the SO number) on a Solothurn burgonet, see photo of MAZ 00249-26 SO-177 B-30. the 33 is an old arsenal inventory number. Attached Images

23rd January 2025, 02:02 PM	#5
AHorsa Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: Rhineland Posts: 373	Thank you Jasper, fantastic! It is exactly the same "3"! I don't know how far these old stamps vary - is it possible that this very stamp wwas used for my helmet as well or was it a common form of "3" and is just from a similar stamp set? Can you tell the name of the book? Here is one from Solothurn which - on the same position as mine - shows a "× 126": https://european-armour.com/images/A-5.jpg So at least we can say that the marked on this position and used this remarkable "3" as well as the "x" Best regards Andreas Last edited by AHorsa; 23rd January 2025 at 02:15 PM.

23rd January 2025, 09:28 PM	#7
AHorsa Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: Rhineland Posts: 373	Thank you! I browsed the online collection of the Altes Zeughaus in Solothurn and under MAZ 255-11 there is a very similar helmet. I assume from the same workshop. Even the decoration on the cheekplates und the neck guard is the same but in better condition (s. attached image of mine). And a number "R 17" at the same position as the XX33 on mine. I somehow have the feeling that there is a connection. Maybe it was in the Zeughaus before they started to stamp the SO-number? Who knows. I wrote them an email. Am excited if / what they reply. BR Andreas Attached Images

21st January 2025, 10:16 PM	#2
Victrix Member Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Sweden Posts: 748	Congratulations on your burgonet! I love the patina and sheen on that piece. Old steel is so beautiful! My schischagge has numbers on it but I think they are for numbering the parts in the workshop. Your looks more like an arsenal number.

22nd January 2025, 07:45 AM	#3
AHorsa Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: Rhineland Posts: 373	Thank you Victrix! Indeed this one has markings on every parts as well in form of four stripes. I think this is also a numberung from the workshop while the xx33 is from the arsenal

23rd January 2025, 05:58 PM	#6
cornelistromp Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 1,060	Welcome. hard to say if it is the same stamp but I don't think it's an ordinary 3. The book is Zwischen Politik und krieg kunstsammlungen der veste coburg. best Jasper

4th February 2025, 08:16 PM	#8
AHorsa Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: Rhineland Posts: 373	I meanwhile got a reply from Solothurn. They say it is pretty similar to some of their Burgonet but as it do not have the SO number, one can not be sure that it was in this armoury. They stamped from the 1830ies until the 1870ies. In 1607 the armoury bought 200 pieces of armour from Nürnberg. It is possible that it is from this group and left Solothurn before the stamping.