Lot 63
63
A GERMAN HELMET FINELY EMBOSSED WITH 19TH CENTURY FANTASTIC DESIGNS IN THE 16TH CENTURY FONTAINBLEU STYLE
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A GERMAN HELMET FINELY EMBOSSED WITH 19TH CENTURY FANTASTIC DESIGNS IN THE 16TH CENTURY FONTAINBLEU STYLE

THE HELMET COMPREHENSIVELY FIRST HALF OF THE 16TH CENTURY, THE DECORATION CIRCA 1830-1850

Details
A GERMAN HELMET FINELY EMBOSSED WITH 19TH CENTURY FANTASTIC DESIGNS IN THE 16TH CENTURY FONTAINBLEU STYLE
The helmet comprehensively first half of the 16th century, the decoration circa 1830-1850
With one-piece skull rising to a low cabled comb (small cracks on both sides behind the visor pivots), fitted with later neck-plates, pivoted bevor closed by a spring-catch and also carrying two later lames, pivoted visor of 'dog's snout' form drawn-out to a prow and pierced with breaths on both sides beneath the flanged sights, and the pivot heads chiselled with demon masks, decorated over its full surface with a series of panels filled with complex designs of scrolling foliage variously centering on both demon and grotesque masks, human subjects in the Antique style, allegorical birds and fantastic monsters, enriched with small animals, exotic birds and putti, all in relief on a contrasting gilt ground, and studded with a row of chiselled mascaron rivets about the neck lames (the visor with an early patched repair evidently pre-dating the decoration, the plume-holder missing)
12½in (31,8cm)
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

The quality and complexity of the embossed decoration is suggestive of armour similarly embellished by the virtuoso goldsmith, ironworker and designer Antoine Vechte of Paris and London. For an illustrated account of his works see the catalogue of The First Park Lane Arms Fair, February 1983, Guy M. Wilson, Antoine Vechte, The Nineteenth Century Cellini

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