Archaic Greek Illyrian Bronze Hoplite Helmet

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Antiquities from Egypt, Greece, Italy, Asia

By Artemis Gallery

Oct 25, 2018

Set Reminder 2018-10-25 11:00:00 2018-10-25 11:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Antiquities from Egypt, Greece, Italy, Asia https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/antiquities-from-egypt-greece-italy-asia-3538
Featuring Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Etruscan, Near Eastern, plus Asian art from Central and Far East. If you love the classics, this is the sale for you. Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com

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• Lot Description
  Northwestern Greece, Illyria, Archaic Period, ca. 6th century BCE. A fine war helmet formed from hammered bronze sheet, with a rectilinear face opening, lengthy cheek pieces which terminate in a point, horizontal ribbing above the forehead which frames the upper facial opening, and twin parallel vertical ridges on the crown in low relief, each flanked by a smaller raised rib along the outer edge. The back and sides flare outward to guard the neck and are lined with dozens of circular pseudo-rivets. This example boasts sumptuous layers of green and blue-green patina and is a somewhat more impressive example of Type II, variant A, with a more-pronounced dome-like form. Size: 9.75" L x 8.125" W x 10.5" H (24.8 cm x 20.6 cm x 26.7 cm).
  
  Helmets like this example were particularly popular in northern Greece, in the province of Illyria, in the modern-day Balkans. They were made for hoplites, the citizen-soldiers of the Greek city-states, who often furnished their own bronze armor. As a result, regional styles developed and created a great deal of variation in shape and form.
  
  Armor was not just for battle, however. The pseudo-rivets on this example show that this was made for parades or to be worn in death. On a battle helmet, those pseudo-rivets would have been real in order to attached a leather guard. Excavations at Sindos in Macedonia - a necropolis with the remains of Greek soldiers - have found that there was a standardized and probably ritualized method for burial. This method included the placement of armor in carefully proscribed areas of the body. The helmet was placed over the head, along with a strip of gold over the mouth and possible other strips or perhaps coins over the eyes.
  
  For a discussion of Type II, variant A, see Angelo Bottini, et. al. "Antike Helme." Mainz, 1982, pp. 48-52, and ef. P. 49, figs. 7-8.
  
  For a stylistically-similar example, please see The Metropolitan Museum of Art, accession number 2003.407.6: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/257638
  
  Another stylistically-similar example hammered for $47,500 at Christie's, New York Antiquities Auction (June 4, 2015, lot 37): https://www.christies.com/lotfinder/ancient-art-antiquities/a-greek-bronze-illyrian-helmet-archaic-period-5903761-details.aspx?from=searchresults&intObjectID=5903761&sid=108bf3d9-13a1-4cab-abd2-04557767d0dd
  
  Provenance: private East Coast, USA collection
  
  All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
  
  A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
  
  We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.
  
  #139482

  Condition

  Remarkably intact, save one small possible repair on right cheek guard.
• Shipping Info

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