LOT 0176

Greek Chalcidian Two-Plate Helmet

EARLY 4TH CENTURY BC

15 1/4" (2.2 kg, 39cm including stand).

An unusual variant of a Chalcidian helmet formed as a bronze bowl composed of two halves formed over a mould and connected by rivets through the crest and in the lower section through the overlap of one plate over its neighbour; carination to the crown and repoussé bands at the ear openings and brow; between the contoured brows a short nasal with rivet; to the rear a narrow flange neck-guard; the cheek pieces connected to the bowl by a five-part hinge, with two bushings per cheek piece, pierced at the lower edge for fastening and with bands of pointillé ornament; mounted on a custom-made stand.

The property of a North West London collector; previously with Bonhams, sale 24251, lot 86; formerly acquired from a Viennese private collection; previously acquired on the Austrian art market in the 1990s; accompanied by a copies of the relevant Bonhams catalogue pages.

See Born, H. Die Helme des Hephaistos. Handwerk und Technik griescchischer Bronzen in Olympia, München, 2009 for discussion.

The present helmet is unusual in that its overall profile is of the Chalcidian type, its two-part construction is atypical.