An exceptionally beautiful and almost perfectly... Lot 7

An exceptionally beautiful and almost perfectly preserved top example of a developed Corinthian helmet. The calotte, preserved without any damage, is set off from the wall by a slightly undercut bend and provided with a shallow edge along the crest. The wall at the forehead is drawn upwards like a gable, merging into a tongue-shaped nasal at the bottom, with arched cut-outs for the eyes at the sides, ending in a spandrel at the back. From this spandrel run the inwardly curving front parts of the cheek guards, which are extended far downwards and leave only a narrow slit, which is covered in the upper half by the nasal. A hole in the lower tips of the left and right cheek guard. The entire lower edges (nasal, eye cut-outs, cheek guards and neck guard) thickened into a narrow rib. Otherwise, as is typical of representatives of this helmet group, no decoration. The neck guard, which swings outwards from the wall in a slight curve, is separated from the cheek guards by an obtuse-angled spandrel. Holes for attaching a helmet crest on either side of the crown edge in the calotte, just behind the frontal gable, and in the centre of the occipital, just above the neck guard. Length from the tips of the cheek flaps to the edge of the neck guard ca. 28 cm. Height approx. 29 cm. Width at the side spandrels 20 cm, maximum width of the neck guard 20.8 cm. The only damage is an approx. 1.5 cm long crack in the lower edge of the left cheek guard. Otherwise excellently preserved bronze helmet without defects and restorations! Dark green, matte, slightly spotty patina. Rarely well-preserved, later Corinthian helmet with a strict, clearly structured design, which is particularly impressive in its simplicity without ornamentation. Helmets of this group could also be worn pushed backwards, so that the otherwise concealed face of the warrior became visible. Portraits of Pallas Athena often show her with such a helmet worn on the back of her head. This type of helmet is depicted in numerous works of sculpture and vase painting and is often regarded as the epitome of the Greek helmet par excellence. Provenance: From the collection of a South German classical philologist, formed during the 1950ties and 1960ties. Thereafter remaining in the family estate. Condition: I -