Lot 96
96
A ROMAN IRON AND BRONZE ALLOY CAVALRY PARADE HELMET WITH MASK
No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VA… Read more
A ROMAN IRON AND BRONZE ALLOY CAVALRY PARADE HELMET WITH MASK

CIRCA MID-1ST CENTURY A.D.

Details
A ROMAN IRON AND BRONZE ALLOY CAVALRY PARADE HELMET WITH MASK
CIRCA MID-1ST CENTURY A.D.
The separately attached stylized human face mask of bronze alloy over iron, with narrow eye-slits, pierced nostrils and mouth, an attachment hole and rivet at each side, with a hinge on the brow. The iron helmet with tinned bronze alloy outer layer with repoussé decoration showing a central victory wreath tied with ribbons and flanked by two stags, looking back, the reins of each being held by a figure of Victory with large wings; rosettes and plants in the field, a frieze of dotted interlocking triangles above dotted crossed bosses on the flaring neck-guard, with remains of a flanged browband above the right ear, traces of iron rivets and attachment holes on the edge, the helmet in two separate fragments, helmet and mask both repaired with restoration, iron parts corroded, two modern hooks on the mask, mounted
Helmet 9 1/16 in. (23 cm.) high; mask 7¼ in. (18.5 cm.) high
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:
H. Born and M. Junkelmann, Römische Kampf- und Turnierrüstungen: Sammlung Axel Guttmann, VI, Mainz, 1997, pp. 21, 84-88, 165ff, pls. VIII, IX-XI, XXXII, 67, 97-100 and 124 (AG 599); and M. Junkelmann, Maskenhelme, Fragen zur römischen Reiterei, Limesmuseum Aalen, Stuttgart, 1998, pp. 39-43, pl. 1.

Cf. H. Russell Robinson, The Armour of Imperial Rome, London, 1975, pp. 118-123, nos. 337-358 for similar, Cavalry Sports type D; M. Junkelmann, Reiter wie Statuen aus Erz, Mainz, 1996, pl. 28; and H. Born and M. Junkelmann, op. cit., p. 20, pls. 5-6, for an example in the Shelby White and Leon Levy Collection, New York.

It has been suggested that the depiction of tethered stags on the helmet may be a reference to the subjugated people of the Roman Empire, such as the Celts, Thracians or Germanic tribes.

More from THE ART OF WARFARE: THE AXEL GUTTMANN COLLECTION PART I

View All
View All