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A Greek bronze helmet of Italo-Corinthian type image 1
A Greek bronze helmet of Italo-Corinthian type image 2
Lot 17

1 May 2013, 10:30 BST
London, New Bond Street

£7,000 - £9,000

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A Greek bronze helmet of Italo-Corinthian type
Circa 4th-3rd Century B.C.
Probably votive, with broad flaring rear neck guard and three riveted attachments over the crown, the narrow openings for the eyes and the nose closed in antiquity with two bronze plaques decorated with incised palmettes within a border of continuous spike motif, a hole on each side to secure the chin strap, 7in (18cm) high, 11in (28cm) max diam

Footnotes

Provenance:
Hermann Historica, Auction 58, 7th October 2009, lot 193.
Axel Guttmann Collection (Inv. No. AG 175/H 31), acquired at Krefeld in 1987.

Literature:
Ancient votive rituals often involved the destruction or modification of the offering, in order to render it unuseable to the owner. More common examples of such practice during the Bronze Age are the bent swords, which are often found in water springs or river beds throughout Europe. In this case, all the openings of the helmet have been sealed with bronze plaques, marking the transition of the object from functional armour to symbolic offering to the Gods.

Additional information

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