Details

LOT 0289

Greek Pontic Tinned Bronze Chalcidian Helmet

5TH-3RD CENTURY B.C.

17 in. (2.15 kg total, 43 cm high including stand).

The bowl forged from a single piece and fitted with removable cheek-pieces; the dome divided into two halves by a carinated ridge, the peaked crown separated from the lower helmet wall by an indented ridge; cut-outs for ears and eyes with raised edges; short, angular neck-guard and short nose-guard extending to the eyebrows; the cheek-pieces with contoured front edge, holes for a chin-strap; remains of textile on the left side of the bowl; accompanied by a display stand.

Provenance

From the collection of T.K., Germany, 1970s.
Acquired in 1992 by Mr R.K.
Acquired by the present owner on the UK art market.

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.12782-240166.
This lot has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database, and is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

Literature

Cf. Ohly, D., Die Ägineten, Die Ostgiebelgruppe, Munich, 1976; Pflug, H., 'Chalkidische Helme' in Antike Helme, RGZM Monographien 14, Mainz, 1988, pp.137-150; Chernenko, E.V., The Scythians 700-300 BC, Hong Kong, 1998; Jonovski, Trakits (The Thracians), 7th century BC-1st century AD, Sofia, 2010 (in Bulgarian); see similar helmets in Hixenbaugh, R., Ancient Greek Helmets, a complete guide and catalogue, New York, 2019, nos. X254-280, esp.X269 and X279.

Footnotes

Hinged cheek-pieces, like in our specimen, appeared in Thracia during the 4th century, but prototypes from the Pontic area and wider Greece show them already in use in the 5th century B.C. The traces of textile on the left part of our helmet show that it was stored inside a protective item -perhaps a case or bag – guarding it against atmospheric agents or possible damage when not in use.