FIRST HALF OF 1ST CENTURY A.D.

Details

AN IMPORTANT ROMAN TINNED BRONZE 'IMPERIAL GALLIC' HELMET
FIRST HALF OF 1ST CENTURY A.D.
With a pair of prominent curving eyebrows of three relief lines flanking two riveted bosses, two further forking ridged eyebrows above, with decorative beaded browband, the horizontal neck-guard with flanged rim and central boss for attaching chin cord, two horizontal occipital ridges above, the helmet with cut-away ear recesses and crest attachment tang on the crown, two riveted bosses for the hinged cheekpiece attachments, each of the cusped cheekpieces decorated with three bosses and a chased winged thunderbolt (fulmen), the emblem of Jupiter, the lead-filled bosses with gilding, traces of soldering above ears possibly for brow piece attachment, modern wire hinges and suspension ring, small repairs
11 in. (28 cm.) high incl. cheekpieces

Special notice

No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 17.5% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis

Lot Essay

PUBLISHED:
M. Junkelmann, Römische Helme: Sammlung Axel Guttmann, VIII, Mainz, 2000, pp. 138-139, pls. 65-66, XII and back cover (AG 501).

Cf. H. Russell Robinson, The Armour of Imperial Rome, London, 1975, p. 45 ff. for similar helmets of Imperial Gallic type.

Almost certainly belonging to an officer, the above helmet is of polished tinned bronze which was intended to give the impression of silver and had the added advantage of not tarnishing.

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