Early 8th century B.C. A Urartian or Assyrian broad hammered bronze helmet of conical form with high pointed apex, the front with a raised linear motif comprising two encircling ribs above the brim; to the front an incised image of winged sun; pierced holes to the sides for fastening rings for supporting cheek-pieces. Cf. Calmeyer, P., Datierbare Bronzen aus Luristan und Kirmanshah, Berlin, 1969, p.89; Borchardt, J., Homerische Helme: Helmenformen der Ág?is in ihren Beziehungen zu orientalischen und europäischen Helmen in der Bronze-und frühen Eisenzeit, Mainz, 1972, fig.12; Born H., Seidl U., Schutzwaffen aus Assyrien und Urartu, Sammlung Axel Guttmann IV, Mainz, 1995, fig.27, p.28; Christie’s, The art of the warfare, the Axel Guttmann collection, Part II, Wednesday 28 April 2004, London, 2004 nos.39, 46; Dezs?, T., Oriental influence in the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean Helmet Traditions in the 9th-7th centuries B.C.: The Pattern of Orientalization, (British Archaeological Reports, S691), Oxford, 1998; other parallel in Gorelik, M., Weapons of Ancient East, IV millennium BC-IV century BC, Saint Petersburg (2003) in Russian, pl.LXI, no.86, from the surroundings of Karmin Blur (Teishebaini). 681 grams, 26 cm high (10 1/4 in.). Acquired 1960s-1990s. Late Alison Barker collection, a retired London barrister. Accompanied by an academic report by Dr Raffaele D'Amato. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by AIAD certificate no.11385-190448. The shape of the helmet is typical of the neo-Assyrian period. Considering the similarity of the winged symbol with that of the helmet in the British Museum, published by Barnett and Calmeyer, which was found in Luristan but with all probability was produced in Urartu or Assyria. The winged sun is clearly visible on some Assyrian helmets in the Guttmann collection (Born, Seidl, 1995, pl.V), on the Assyrian helmets of the Giancarlo Ligabue collection in Venice and on helmets in private collection in Teheran (Born, Seidl, 1995, fig.40; Dezs?, 1998, III.10-13). It was the symbol of royalty for the Assyrian rulers (‘his own self, the Sun’, i.e., ‘His Majesty’), and appears in reliefs with them (Born, Seidl, 1995, fig.33). The winged sun symbol was connected with Shamash, the solar deity, god of justice and equity, judge of both gods and men. In the ‘Forum of the gods’ of Ashur he was venerated in a twin temple with his mother, the moon-goddess Sin, under the rule of Assur, the supreme god of the Assyrian pantheon.
