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Mysterious ancient helmet battles to €77,000
From a group of 17 helmets, this 5th century BC relic far-exceeded its €10,000 estimate in Munich
A number of exceptional historic militaria artefacts have sold in Hermann Historica's auction of Antiquities from the Axex Guttmann Collection and Other Properties.
The German auction house's spring sales between April 7-16 are offering a broad variety of fine antiques, arms and armour, hunting gear, militaria, and arts and crafts.
Among the star lots at the April 12 sale was this halcidian helmet, an Ibero-Celtic variant, from the 5th century BC.
The Bronze hemispherically-shaped skull has riveted reinforcing bands along the perimeter, with mask-shaped and reinforced eye cut-outs.
It sold in an excellent state of preservation - without the typical deep corrosion caused by a salty environment because the helmet had not been unearthed.
 The halcidian helmet, an Ibero-Celtic variant, from the 5th century BC |
The historic artefact shot well beyond its pre-sale estimate of €10,000 to command a final hammer price of €77,000.
However, while its value has been proven on the auction block, mystery still surrounds the helmet's origins.
It belongs a group of 17 helmets, which were discovered in a cliff deposit presumably in the Spanish province of Soria (Castille-Leon). To this day, the helmet's type and date are not precisely known.
The Axel Guttmann Collection apparently acquired the helmet in Zurich, circa 1987-88.
According to Hermann Historica, it has previously sold six other helmets from the group.
Prices and dates were as follows: €25,000 and €19,000 (both April 2008); €30,000 and 35,000 (both April 2009); €38,000 and €43,000 (October 2009).
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Images: Hermann Historica
