Northern Black Sea region, 4th century B.C. A very expressive form of bronze helmet of Chalcidian type. The Crown domed skull composed of two halves, connected to one another by twelve rivets fastened along the overlapping edges. With a mask-like front featuring high-arched eyebrows, the eyes have been carefully cut out. The round sections are each accentuated with a separately applied moulded band. A short nose guard reinforced by a metal sheet extending shortly over the eye openings. This sheet is additionally reinforced with two rivets at the sides of the forehead and covers the seam over the overlapping parts of the crown. This area of reinforcement has been delicately engraved with a seven-pointed zigzag line. The lower section of the skull has a smooth exterior, apart from a small section around the nose, whilst the upper section is decorated with repousséd lines. The lower edge of the helmet is portioned by a circumferential line surmounted by a double line extending from front to reverse on either side of the crown, flanking the central seam and turning in a wide curve to the left and right, therefore forming a pointed centre on the forehead and nape. Within the globular lobes on each side are five bands composed of three raised lines radiating from the crown. The cheek guards are connected to the skull by a three-piece hinge. The cheek guards are curved at the back with two shallow recessed on the front and distinctly pointed lower edge. The lower part of the cheek guards are with wide perforations for the chinstrap. The exterior of the crown and cheek guards have been cleared a red-brown cuprite layer oxidation which has conserved the ancient surface. On the right side of the skull close to the double lines a smaller tension crack at front and a longer tension crack at back. This helmet is in an extremely good state of preservation and one can only assume it was worn by someone in a high-ranking position. Provenance: ex. Hermann Historica, lot 1818, 13th November 2019, previously on the Lithuanian art trade. Purchased by the previous Lithuanian owner in England in 2015. Purchased by the previous English owner in the English art trade in 1979. Size: L:325mm / W:230mm ; 555g. Provenance: Property of a European collector, previously part of the UK collection formed in the 1970s. ex. Herman Historica Auctions. Copy of the original invoice will accompany this object.