A relatively light bronze legionary helmet with bulbous domed bowl, small crest knob with flattened top, pierced at the centre for insertion of a crest pin; narrow neck guard with thickened rim; fastening clasps for the cheek-guards inside the bowl.

PROVENANCE:
Formerly in the private collection of Mr M. B., Mainz, Germany, since the 1990s; previously in the Axel Guttman collection; accompanied by an expertise by military archaeologist Dr Raffaele D'Amato; this lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by AIAD certificate number no. 10299-168756.

LITERATURE:
See Robinson, R., The Armour of Imperial Rome, New York, 1975, pls.6-25 pp.18ff; Schaaf, U., 'Etruskich-Römische Helme' in Antike Helme, RGZM Monographien 14, Mainz, 1988, pp.318-326; D'Amato, R., Arms and Armour of the Imperial Roman Soldier, London, 2009; Christie's, The Axel Guttmann Collection of Ancient Arms and Armour, part 1, London, 2002, p.102; Travis, H & J., Roman helmets, Stroud, 2014.

FOOTNOTES:
The use of the Etrusco-Italic tradition of the 'Montefortino' style helmet continued through the late Consular Age and into the early Imperial period, as shown on the Altar of Domitius Ahenobarbus and on the monument of Flavius Mikkales.