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LOT 1089
Italian Foot-Combat Helm
21ST CENTURY A.D.
14 1/2 in. (3.9 kg, 37 cm high).
Comprising a pivoting visor, one piece skull raising to a small medial comb and fitted at the nape with a plume holder, flower-shaped pivots, front and rear gorget formed of a single plate.
ProvenanceThe Kusmirek Collection, UK.
LiteratureCf. a similar combat helm in Pyhrr, S.W., Of Arms and men, Arms and Armour at the Metropolitan 1912-2012, New York, 2012, fig,6.
FootnotesThe helmet is a reproduction of a foot-combat helm, or great bascinet, used between the end of 15th and the first half of 16th century in the battles and tournaments. A similar helmet is that of Sir Giles Capel (1485-1556), a prominent figure at Henry VIII's court. These helmets were characterised by a unique rounded pierced visor with (here 60) slots for sight and ventilation. Helmets of this massive size and distinctive type were intended for foot-combat, a sporting contest fought by two fully armoured warriors armed with poleaxes, spears or swords. However, in this reproduction the visor has been mounted upon a separated collar.
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Urartian Bronze Cuirass Belt with Animals
8th-7th century B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £4,160
Displaying two repoussé registers of animals including lions, antelope and birds processing right between geometric borders, stylised flower heads to one terminal; attachment perforations to upper and lower edges; one rounded terminal, one terminating with a narrow arm and D-shaped lug; mounted on an adjustable custom-made display stand. 6.4 kg total, 35 cm high including stand
some restoration.
UK private collection before 2000. UK art market. Property of a London gentleman. Accompanied by an academic report by 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.11745-202242.
Protective belts were very popular in the Caucasus, especially among the Urartians, decorated with geometric motifs, or with images of warriors, animals, hunting and mythological tales. They were regarded as a personal item and eventually buried with the warrior. -
Amlash Type Spearhead
12th-11th century B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £182
Long, parallel-sided with deep midrib, broad tip, round-section neck with V-shaped recess to each face and thick square-section tang. 468 grams, 47 cm
Ex German collection, Cologne, 1980-1990s.
This weapon belongs to the type 1 of the spear-head classification of Khorasani, mainly from Marlik or Amlash areas. Similar pieces have been dated by Stutzinger to 1200-1100 BC. -
Byzantine 'Greek Fire' Ceramic Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade
9th-11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £104
Pear-shaped ceramic vessel with domed filler-hole, circumferential impressed bands to the shoulder and equator; intended to be filled with explosive liquid and wick, used as a hand grenade. 490 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.
