The Crosby Garrett helmet

[Gaius Julius Caesar]

Thanks Paul, saw this on the FB link, but can't view it due to downloading restrictions at work....

[mcbishop]

Thanks Paul, saw this on the FB link, but can't view it due to downloading restrictions at work....

Ah, the old helmet porn filter gets 'em every time!

Back on topic, heres a zoomable picture of the helmet that I will have hours of fun with...At this stage from front only.

And, amazingly, as Eric (almost) used to say to Ernie, you can't see the joins. What would be both nice and informative would be similar views of the interior showing details of construction (that's where most helmets show their true character). We'll have to assume those will come along with Christie's detailed scientific analysis of the alloy used and its coatings in the detailed publication of the helmet... won't we... surely?...

Mike Bishop

[Caballo]

More pics taken today from Christies, where with no glass between the viewer and the helmet, the kind people at Christies allowed me to take some pics of the inside of the helmet. Some other thoughts:-
-Surprisingly small- would fit a modern youth
-Restoration work quite clear
-Holes in rear brim - perhaps for a leather or fleece lining???
-Two rings on the rear- perhaps for streaming ribbons and two holes on the griffin crest , perhaps for the same purpose (cf Dura clibanarius)
-Studs for fastening leather round the back of the helmet missing

Look forward to other comments?

And one person commented that when the pictures were taken from below, the light flashed like lightning from the eyes......

Front famous view


Side


Side


Inside


Inside 2


Griffin


Rear




Ecatalogue here http://www.christies.com/LotFinder/sear ... edids=8820

The helmet is on view for the next two days at Christies, Old Brompton Road, near South Kensington tube, from 9 am - 5 pm, with the auction on October 7th. After that it will either be disappearing into a private collection, or hopefully to Tullie House in Carlisle. Either way, this is - for most of us- the only chance of seeing the helmet outside a glass case....

Lots of other stuff, including this Greek terracotta Aphrodite, leaning against a pillar with a "Salve, sailor" look about her... http://www.christies.com/LotFinder/Zoom ... 5/d5358532

[Gaius Julius Caesar]

Definately Aphrodite? Not a sign post for a brothel?

[Gaius Julius Caesar]

http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/pho ... 5665308217

This was posted on facebook today

.This image shows how the Crosby Garret helmet may have been worn by cavalrymen involved in sporting events. Although this idea is a plausible explanation, other theories suggest that the helmets in question had a more ornamental or ceremonial use. There is also a possibility that this helmet would have been worn by a standard bearer in battle, to help intimidate the opposition.

[Caratacus]

I wonder if anyone would agree that this helmet bears a striking likeness to some of the paintings that have been found showing Mithras and the Bull? Given the popularity of the Mithraic cult amongst the Roman military, could this helmet have been used in cult ceremonies, rather than in the hippika gymnasia events? Just a thought!

Mike Thomas
(Caratacus)

[jho]

I believe the Phrygian cap is often used in Roman art generally to denote "Easterners".

The male/female helmet Cavalry Sports types have been explained by the theory that the two teams of horsemen may have represented Greeks and Amazons. This Phrygian cap would give the possibility of staging fights between Greeks and Trojans or Greeks and Persians. Of course all of this is pure speculation.

[Carus Andiae]

Are those a couple of Romans in long tunics in the background?! hock:

Seriously, thanks for the photos. It'll be interesting to see what happens, but I fear it will end up in a private collection.

[Peroni]

It will be auctioned at Christie’s in London on October 7 where it is estimated to fetch between £200,000 and £300,000

Well, today's the day....Best of luck to the Tullie House Museum bid!

[Caballo]

The auction has kicked off and it's the last lot this morning. Should know by lunchtime. Fingers crossed....

[Crispvs]

Peronis and Caballo, my sentiments exactly.

There has been a huge amount of interest in the helmet and catalogues have actually sold out. Let's hope Tullie House has secured some serious funding to back a winning bid. As you say, fingers crossed.

I am somewhat heartened though by the fact that sometimes Christie's estimates are somewhat wide of the mark. I recall them confidently predicting between £275,000 and £350,000 for the Guttmann Mouse and Loaf helmet and despite the high level of interest it ended up not selling.

Incidentally, have a look at this image.
http://search.catalogkid.com/search/ima ... id=2288297

This is from the cover of a Christie's New York auction catalogue from earlier this year.

Crispvs

[mcbishop]

The auction has kicked off and it's the last lot this morning. Should know by lunchtime. Fingers crossed....

And in a curious piece of timing, the post has just brought the latest Roman Society mailing with a colourful A4 sheet about the helmet and details of how to donate. Just serves to emphasise how little time has been made available for Tullie House to get things rolling - the Roman Society represents a considerable constituency who could bring money to bear on this but may not all live in the online world. It all looks like unseemly haste from brushing off the dirt to flogging it off.

Mike Bishop

[Timogen]

Good Heavens £2,000,000.00!

[Timogen]

Sadly, it has gone to a British private collector and not Tullie House.

[Caballo]

Any hope of it being donated to a museum......he asks, expecting the answer no
Cannot quite believe that I stood so close to a £2 m helmet.......