A Venetian Barbute of ca. 1470

[Ed]

This thing is probably the nicest object in my collection.

Classic form, exquisitely executed.

There is some indication that the opening for the face has been jiggered with, probably long ago.

Unknown provanence except that it came from the Douglass Collection and so might have been purchased on a trip that Douglass made with von Kienbush to Europe. Might have been purchased thru the flegling Arms and Armor Club in NYC which was founded by Dean, Douglass, Kienbush et al.

It's unfortunate that even for relatively important pieces such as this, history is more often than not non existant.