MAGNA GRAECIA, LATE CLASSICAL TO EARLY HELLENISTIC PERIOD, CIRCA 350-250 B.C.

Details

A GREEK BRONZE CHALCIDIAN HELMET
MAGNA GRAECIA, LATE CLASSICAL TO EARLY HELLENISTIC PERIOD, CIRCA 350-250 B.C.
12 ¾ in. (32.3 cm.) high

Provenance

Axel Guttmann (1944-2001), Berlin, acquired in Freiburg, 1988 (Inv. no. AG173/H29).
Antiken der Sammlung Axel Guttman, Auktion 54, Hermann Historica, Munich, 11 April 2008, lot 322.
Acquired by the current owner from the above.

Literature

M. Burns, "Graeco-Italic Militaria," in M. Merrony, ed., Mougins Museum of Classical Art, Mougins, 2011, p. 219, fig. 108.
R. Hixenbaugh, Ancient Greek Helmets: A Complete Guide and Catalog, New York, 2019, p. 491, no. X353.

Exhibited

Musée d'Art Classique de Mougins, 2011-2023 (Inv. no. MMoCA169).

Conditions of sale

Brought to you by

Hannah Fox Solomon Head of Department, Specialist

hsolomon@christies.com +1 212 636 2256

Lot Essay

This elegant example features a carinated ridge around the spherical dome rising to a peak above the forehead and three tubular plume-holders attached to the crown. Noticeably absent from this South Italian type is the nose-guard. It features hinged cheek- guards and large ear-openings.

Feathers were popular embellishments on Chalcidian helmets, intended to intimidate enemies and show an association with Ares, the god of war, who is often depicted wearing a crested helmet. Both Livy and Polybius make reference to aigrettes (horsehair crests and/or feathers) and their ability to create fear in battle (see pp. 218-221 in Burns, op. cit.). This type of helmet occurs frequently on South Italian vases, as seen worn by an Italic warrior on a Campanian hydria (no. 92 in M. Mayo, ed., The Art of South Italy: Vases from Magna Graecia). For a nearly identical helmet also once in the collection of Axel Guttmann, see no. X356 in Hixenbaugh, op. cit.

More from Arms and Armour from the Mougins Museum of Classical Art, Part I

View All