A relatively heavy bronze legionary helmet, consisting of embossed skull and wide neck-guard with flanged ear-guards, traced eyebrows to the front; the flat brow band with rivets a later addition; a copper rivet below the neck-guard for fastening an eyelet for the attachment of chin-guard straps, a rare feature; a battle sign derived from the blow of a stone or sling-shot bullet (glanda) is visible on the left upper rear part of the skull.

PROVENANCE:
Formerly in the private collection of Mr M. B., Mainz, Germany, since the 1990s; believed previously in the Axel Guttman collection; accompanied by an expertise by military archaeologist 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.10291-168755.

LITERATURE:
See Robinson, R., The Armour of Imperial Rome, New York, 1975; D'Amato, R., Arms and Armour of the Imperial Roman Soldier, London, 2009; Travis, H. & Travis, J., Roman helmets, Stroud, 2014.