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Mint Greek Bronze Illyrian Helmet with Stunning Patina browse these categories for related items... All Items: Antiques:Regional Art:Ancient World:Greek:Bronze: Pre AD 1000: item # 793283
Apolonia Ancient Art 290 Fillmore St. #D Denver, CO. 80206 303-321-7351 gallery Guest Book Price on Request |
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| This mint quality bronze helmet is of the Illyrian type, and has the open face and covered ears. This intact piece is in mint condition and has a superb dark green/brown patina, with light blue, light yellow, light green, and spotty red highlights. In fact, the stunning patina seen on this helmet is certainly one of the finest seen on a helmet of this type. There are also attractive inner surface mineral deposits, which add to the exceptional eye appeal of this piece. This piece was made by hammering one solid sheet of bronze into the shape that is seen. There are minute bronze rivets that were individually applied to the outer perimeter of this piece, and this process was very labor intensive. These rivets are very decorative and may have supported a leather webbing, which attached to a leather core that served as an inner pad. There is also a well defined crest box seen at the top, a crest pin hole at the back, and a crest pin seen at the front. There is a single line seen in the forehead area, and this design provides extra strength to the helmet. This piece dates circa 6th century B.C., is approximately 12 inches high, and is a full sized example. This top quality piece compares to the Axel Guttmann example that was offered by Christie's Antiquities, South Kensington, London, "The Art of Warfare, The Axel Guttmann Collection, Part 1", Nov. 2002, no. 55. (Realized 14,100 pounds.) This piece is also analogous in type and quality to the examples offered in Sotheby's Antiquities, New York, June 2000, no. 73. (Realized $32,950.00); and Christie's Antiquities, New York, June 2008, no. 167. ($30,000.00-$50,000.00 estimates, $40,000.00 realized.); and Christies Antiquities, New York, June 2010, no. 78. ($30,000.00-$50,000.00 estimates, $50,000.00 realized.) The exceptional mint quality helmet offered here is classified as a "Type II" Illyrian helmet, as seen in "Antike Helm", Lipperheide and Antikenmuseums Collections, Mainz, Germany, 1988, pp. 48-52. The other examples cited here are also classified as "Type II". The piece offered here is one of the finest known examples of it's type, and compares with the auction quality examples cited here, as the helmet offered here, and all of the helmets cited above are all intact and have exceptional patinas. The example offered here also has an additional feature that the other examples cited here do not have, and that is this piece has a raised line at the back which is seen below the crest box. (See attached back side photo.) This line faintly continues around the sides of the helmet as well. This horizontal line was designed to deflect verticle sword blows and strengthen the helmet, and the curved neck guard at the back was also designed for this reason as well. This helmet may be the finest example available on the world market today due to its exceptional quality, and the fact that this piece was not over cleaned, and in addition, this piece has an exceptional multi-colored patina which is one of the best. A custom metal stand is included, along with two large x-rays which show a great deal relative to the construction and quality of the piece. Ex: Private English collection. Ex: Fortuna Fine Art, New York, New York. Ex: Private New York collection. I certify that this piece is authentic as to date, culture, and condition: | |||||||||||
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