STUNNING LATE ROMAN IRON, SILVER AND GEM-SET CAVALRY HELMET OF BERKASOVO

Ca. AD 300 - 350. A Late Roman parade helmet of Berkasovo type, dating to the early 4th century AD, with a domed crown assembled from separate plates and covered with decorated silver sheathing. The crown is reinforced by a broad transverse band secured with prominent domed rivets and embellished with circular and square settings, some retaining coloured stone and glass inlays. Above the crown rises an arched crest comprising a curved metal band supported by 28 cylindrical struts and decorated with rounded terminals and rivets. The silver-clad surface is further ornamented with finely punched beaded borders and geometric motifs. A broad reinforcing band encircles the lower edge of the skull, decorated with repoussé chevrons and punched dots. At the front, the brow band extends into a pointed nose guard, while the arched eye openings are framed by punched decoration and raised bosses. A pair of elongated cheekpieces descends from the sides, each decorated with four circular gem settings and bearing a Greek inscription along its upper edge: ΔΙΖΖΩΝ ΥΓΙΕΝΩΝ ΦΟΡΙ ΑΥΕΙΤΟΥ ΕΡΓΟΝ ΓΟΚ Α ΓΡ ΙΒ, principally translated a Dizzon, wear [this] in good health, work of Avitus, followed by a numerical notation. At the rear, a broad, flaring neck guard extends downwards, decorated with punched geometric ornament and three circular gem settings. The helmet has been restored and reassembled from fourteen components, retaining 33 stone and glass inlays in red, white, brown and orange tones. For similar see: Museum of Vojvodina, Berkasovo II, AA 154, Cat. 136. Size: 350mm x 250mm; Weight: 2.64kg Provenance: Private collection, acquired on the Belgian art market, 11 January 2020; Ex. Adrian Darmon collection, France, acquired 10 February 1986 (art historian, writer and journalist; former Reuters correspondent, 1970–1978, and diplomatic correspondent in Paris until 1981. Founder of several magazines between 1982 and 1992, including Nouvel Homme, Magazine des Sports et de l’Aventure, Art et Actions and Art et Valeurs, and of www.artcult.fr in 1996. Author of Around Jewish Art Dictionary, published in 2003; the World Dictionary of Still Life Painters (1270–1810); the Dictionary of Expressionist Artists; Journal d’un fou d’art; and Migrants, détresse and Daesh, published in June 2017. Professor at EAC-Ideth School, 2000–2003. Appointed Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres in December 2011); Ex. Les Maitres Joailliers LLC, Paris, France, 1960s. This item has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database and comes with a confirmation letter. This piece is accompanied by a historical report from Alessandro Neri, an international Cultural Heritage expert based in Florence, Italy.

Estimate:£50,000

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