Late 9th century BC-early 7th century BC. A broad hammered bronze helmet of conical shape, decorated to both sides of the bowl with chased low relief representing fighting divinities or warriors; two bronze rings for fastening the leather chin-strap to both sides; rows of pierced holes to the edges for fastening the leather lining; mounted on a custom-made display stand. See Barnett, R.D. and Falkner, M., The Sculptures of Assur-nasir-apli II (883-859 B.C.), Tiglath-pileser III (745-727 B.C.), Esarhaddon (681-669 B.C.) from the Central and South-West Palaces at Nimrud, London, 1962; Born H. and Seidl U., Schutzwaffen aus Assyrien und Urartu, Sammlung Axel Guttmann IV, Mainz, 1995; Christie’s, The art of the warfare, the Axel Guttmann collection, Part I, Wednesday 6 November 2002, London, 2001; Dezs?, T., Near Eastern Helmets of the Iron Age, (British Archaeological Reports, S992), Oxford, 2001; Gorelik, M., Weapons of Ancient East, IV millennium BC-IV century BC, Saint Petersburg (2003) in Russian; Dezs?, T., The Assyrian Army, I. The structure of the Neo-Assyrian army as reconstructed from the Assyrian Palace Reliefs and Cuneiform Sources, 2. Cavalry and Chariotry, Budapest, 2012; similar helmets in Gorelik, 2003, pl. LXI, nn.3,95. 4.4 kg, 58.5cm including stand; helmet: 1.9 kg, 25cm (23"). From a private collection formed in the Netherlands; previously in a European collection formed prior to 1980; accompanied by an archaeological report by military specialist Dr Raffaele D'Amato; this lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by AIAD certificate number no.10198-165156. This rare and wonderful helmet is an unusual example of conical bowl with multiple rim-holes for the attachment of a lining fabric. Pointed conical helmets like this were worn both by cavalry (Barnett-Falkner, 1962, pls. LXIV-LXV; Dezs?, 2012, pp.14,19) and infantry of Urartian and Assyrian armies. Judging from the cavalry depictions of Urartian bronze helmets in Assyrian art, Urartian soldiers were equipped with an Assyrian-type pointed helmet, a rounded bronze shield, and two spears. Further incised representations on Urartian bronze helmets show cavalrymen wearing pointed helmets, equipped with lances, their upper body covered by a rounded bronze shield (Dezs?, 2001, cat.n.91-99").