Aventail

This article is about the piece of medieval armor. For the network technology company, see Aventail Corporation.

File:Aventail.jpg

An early aventail guarded the wearer's head, neck, and chin between a mail shirt and a helmet.

An aventail or camail is a flexible curtain of chainmail on a helmet, that extends to cover the neck and shoulders. The mail could be removed for cleaning or storage, and attached to the helm through use of a leather cord that was threaded through brass rings at the edge of the helm. Aventails were most commonly seen on bascinets in the 14th century and served as a replacement for a Chainmaille coif. Some aventails were decorated with edging in brass or bronze links, or dagged edges.

Aventails were typically attached to the helmet via small staples known as vervelles.