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LOT 1070
British Leather Fencing Helmet
CIRCA 1890-1920S A.D.
15 3/8 in. (2.0 kg, 39 cm).
By Lillywhite Frowd Co of London, fitted with neck fringe, stamped buckled securing strap and wire mesh face and ear panels, padded lining internally marked 'broad arrow-over-67' so likely a military issue.
ProvenanceAcquired from Manfred Schotten Antiques, 2016.
The Kusmirek Collection, UK.
Accompanied by a copy of Manfred Schotten invoice and listing.
Although masks/helmets of this general form are typically associated with sword fencing, this example is of very heavy construction so possibly for use in protecting while training with a heavier weapon than a foil or epee.
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AUCTIONS:
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LOT 1070
British Leather Fencing Helmet
Estimate £250 - 350€290 - 410 (for guidance only)$340 - 470 (for guidance only)
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German Iron Stirrup Pair
16th century A.D.Estimate: £400 - 600 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £111
Featuring twisted bar open treads, arched side pieces grooved and connected by a strap bar. 780 grams total, 16.5 cm each
Acquired from Czerny's Auctions, Italy, 2016, lot 313. The Kusmirek Collection, UK. Accompanied by a copy of Czerny's invoice and lot details. -
European Savoyard Burgonet
Circa 1620 A.D.Estimate: £3,500 - 4,500 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £1,389
Comprising a full face shield with broad wavy bars and a small mouth opening, a wide hinged visor; the visor and the front section of the helmet secured by large hook-and-eye closures on the right-hand side; the crown with a tall ridge running from front to back, small collar for protecting the neck. 1.14 kg, 25 cm high
Acquired from Andrew Bennett in 2016. The Kusmirek Collection, UK. Accompanied by a copy of a payment confirmation from Andrew Bennett, dated 1st June 2016. Accompanied by an academic report by Dr Raffaele D'Amato. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no. 11768-203986.
This variation of the burgonet helmet is thought to have originated in the Savoy region of southeast France, and was very popular with heavy cavalry (Reiters) serving with a variety of Continental armies of the period. The term Savoyard is a reference to a large number of these helmets that the Swiss captured from the troops of the Duke of Savoy during an unsuccessful assault on the city of Genoa in 1602. The undulated bars and the small mouth of the visor are all indicative of the Savoyard style. The hinges on the side allowed the front of the helmet as a whole to be lifted away from the rear, aiding the wearer to place it over his head. -
Byzantine 'Greek Fire' Ceramic Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade
9th-11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £176
Irregular pear-shaped ceramic vessel with domed filler-hole, impressed rings and vertical bars to the shoulder; intended to be filled with explosive liquid and wick, used as a hand grenade. 980 grams, 15 cm
Ex London, UK, collection, 1990s. Accompanied by an academic paper by military specialist Dr Raffaele D'Amato, dated 15 July 2019 and titled 'Eastern Roman Empire - Greek Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade (μεσαίον kακάβιον) 9th-11th century AD'.
Apart from the use of siphons or manual flame-throwers called cheirosiphona, special corps of Roman soldiers employed terracotta grenades, in the form of small jars, abundantly evidenced in archaeological excavations. Such were the γανωτα, vessels (sometimes also of bronze) used for Greek fire. They were called μεσαία kακαβιά or κυτροκακάβια where the former had a bulbous shape and the latter a more cylindrical form.
