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Lot Essay
This cavalry sports helmet, composed of two distinct elements – a helmet and a mask – belongs to the so-called Kalkriese type. Named for a helmet discovered at that 9 A.D. battle site in Germany, the type is characterized by a plain mask without ears and a centered hinge above the arching brows, slivered eye openings, and prominent nose. Originally, this helmet would have featured forward-curving cheek-guards attached to the Weisenau type helmet, as seen on an example formerly on display at the Museum Carnuntinum in Bad Deutsch-Altenburg, Austria (see http://romancoins.info/MilitaryEquipment-Facemasks.html).
The helmet is richly decorated in repoussé, depicting a central wreath tied with ribbons and flanked by two stags, with the goddess Victory, depicted with large wings, holding their reins. While stags are an unusual animal to be featured on Roman helmets, they were more frequently observed on objects originating from eastern Celtic, Thracian and Scythian cultures, regions where members of the Roman auxiliary cavalry originated from.
The helmet is richly decorated in repoussé, depicting a central wreath tied with ribbons and flanked by two stags, with the goddess Victory, depicted with large wings, holding their reins. While stags are an unusual animal to be featured on Roman helmets, they were more frequently observed on objects originating from eastern Celtic, Thracian and Scythian cultures, regions where members of the Roman auxiliary cavalry originated from.