| 67 Ehemals Sammlung in den USA. Erworben im US-amerikanischen Kunsthandel. A bronze helmet with ram’s horns, northern Black Sea area, 4th century B.C. Bipartite bronze helmet with form elements of Chalcidian helmets. The two halves of the skull are riveted in the middle at irregular intervals of 1 - 2 cm. Above the smooth forehead, one rib each near the edges of the slightly overlapping plates, these extending down over the crown to the back of the head. Between these ribs sit the rivets connecting the two halves. At the back of the head, the ribs curve slightly outward, after a sharp angle. Below them, under both ribs, an angular rib running parallel to the course of the upper one. A stylised, coiled ram’s horn with angular ribs hammered outwards on each side. In the front , above the face, two stepped and arched “eyebrows” in repoussé, which join in the middle to form an extremely shortened nasal. Behind this, the entire rim runs horizontally and is flanged outwards. In the front half of the helmet , a U-shaped cheek piece on each side, which is connected to the helmet by a five-piece tubular hinge. The second and fourth tubes extending from a rectangular hinge flap, which is attached to the inside of the helmet with two rivets. The middle and outer tubes created by turning the upper edge of the cheek piece inwards. A rib running along the inner edge of the cheek piece. The inner surface decorated with a stag in repoussé. A small crescent- shaped face cut-out at the top front, a perforation for a fastening strap on each side at the bottom. Beautiful dark green patina with scattered oxide deposits. Minor indentations on the left ram’s horn, resulting from a blow with a sharp object. Otherwise an excellently preserved antique helmet . The two-piece construction with echoes of late Chalcidian helmets (“eyebrows” and nasal, movable cheek pieces) is typical of local forms from the northern Black Sea region. The two-piece design is probably an influence from the Central Asian region and uncharacteristic of Mediterranean helmets of this period. Height with cheek pieces approx. 30 cm, without cheek pieces 17 cm. Width 23 cm. Length 22 cm. Provenance: East German Private collection. Previously US-collection. Acquired in the US art trade. 287216 II - € 15.000 44
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