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LOT 0258
Norman or Viking Period Iron Four-Plate Helmet
CIRCA 8TH-12TH CENTURY A.D.
17 1/4 in. (3.36 kg total, 44 cm high including stand).
Comprising four triangular plates each with curved profile mounted with the frontal and rear plates overlapping the lateral ones, rivetted; two small lateral rings for attachment of cheek-plates; mounted on a custom-made display stand.
ProvenanceAcquired 1971-1972.
From the collection of the vendor's father.
Property of a London, UK, collector.
This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no. 11754-202772.
See Curtis, H.M., 2,500 Years of European Helmets, North Hollywood, 1978; Denny, N., & Filmer-Sankey, J., The Bayeux Tapestry, London, 1966; Kirpicnikow, A.N., Russische Helme aus dem Frühen Mittelalter, Waffen- und Kostumkunde, 3rd Series, Vol.15, pt. 2, 1973; D’Amato, R., ‘Old and new evidence on East-Roman helmets from the 9th to the 12th centuries,’ in Acta Militaria Medievalia, 2015, XI, pp. 27-157, items fig.23, nn.1-2 and pl.1.
FootnotesThe type of helmet composed from rivetted plates is a long-lived military fashion depicted from Late Antiquity to the medieval period.
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AUCTIONS:
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LOT 0258
Norman or Viking Period Iron Four-Plate Helmet
Sold for (Inc. bp): £2,600
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Medieval Eastern European Iron Macehead
14th-15th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £117
Displaying shallow striations running vertically around the body; cylindrical socket. 828 grams, 64 mm wide
Acquired 1990s-early 2000s. East Anglian private collection.
This kind of later maces, typical of 15th century, had irregularly shaped heads, with spheres having holes for the insertion of the shaft. Incised, parallel strips formed a cross ornament running horizontally and vertically. Grooved lines were carved in the fields between. -
Avar-Byzantine Silver-Gilt Sword Belt Mount Group
7th century A.D.Estimate: £200 - 300 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £80
Comprising six mounts: four 'floral' plates composed of six raised pellet-in-ring motifs arranged around a central hole, some mounting lugs remaining to the reverses; an openwork knotwork type with three mounting lugs to reverse; a hollow-formed rectangular plate with one rounded end, granulated borders framing granulated clusters arranged in orderly rows around a central arm and piercing; granulated border to reverse. 25.1 grams total, 18-48 mm
Fine condition.
Acquired in the 1980s-1990s. Ex an important central London gallery, London W1.
This type of belt element decorated with granulation, is present in the Avar graves of the second half of the 7th century, and was most likely produced in the workshops of the Eastern Roman Empire, from where they reached the Avar lands as imperial gifts (tomb of Kunbàboni) or spoils of war. They were part of multiple belts, to which sabers and knives were attached, commonly used among Avars, Bulgars and Romans during the 7th and 8th centuries AD. -
Luristan Bronze Dagger
3rd millennium B.C.Estimate: £300 - 400 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £150
Composed of a leaf-shaped blade, central slightly raised midrib, separately casted hilt with crescentic guard, rivet hole and lozenge-shaped grip. 147 grams, 26.5 cm
Ex German collection, Cologne, 1980-1990s.
Early bronze daggers from Luristan and Elam had separate casted hilt. Some scholars suggest that arsenic bronze was used in their production, and the handle was separately cast and rivetted to the hilt. Most scholars (Moorey, Mahboubian, Slotta, Vatandust, Khorasani) agree on a 3rd millennium B.C. dating based on the decoration of the hilt.
