Orle (helmet decoration)

The orle was a decorative chaplet or wreath worn on helmets in Western Europe during the first half of the 15th century.

There is a level of overlap of function and appearance with the torse, though the latter term implies a twisted pad made up of, usually, two contrasting colours of cloth.

In this period the bascinet was often worn under a great helm, and the orle served as a padded buffer between the two helmets.

The force of any blow received on the great helm would tend to be absorbed by the orle, rather than being directly transmitted to the bascinet and the head within it.

[1][2] The later orle retained its padded, roll-like, appearance, but was made of fine woven material, silk or velvet, often incorporating bands of cloth of gold or silver.