Celtic Helmet with Neckguard in the British Museum, May 2014

helmet

Object type: helmet

Museum number: 1872,1213.2

Description:

Copper alloy peaked helmet. Made from beaten copper alloy sheet, the helmet is approaching the Roman coolus helmet in form, with a broad neck guard with La Tène style decoration. The central repoussé palmette is flanked by lobed stems and further ornamented by symmetrical bosses scored for enamelling. The base of the headpiece is encircled with two pairs of parallel incised lines.

The left side of the headpiece is torn and dented, damage on the right side is slighter. The cheekpiece attachments are very fragmentary, and the cheekpieces themselves are missing entirely, but it appears that they were held in place by expanded rivets with scored heads. Rivet holes and a circular patch of dicolouration at the peak of the headpiece suggest the original presence of a plume holder or mount, now also missing.

Culture/period: Iron Age, La Tène


Date: 50 - 150 (circa)

Findspot: Excavated/Findspot: England (?) (Europe,British Isles,England)

Materials: copper alloy

Dimensions: Weight: 514 grammes
Length: 302 millimetres (including neck-guard)
Height: 165 millimetres
Width: 170 millimetres

Inscriptions

Inscription Type: annotation

Inscription Content: II

Inscription Comment: Scored behind right ear.

Bibliography: R I B II.3, 2425.1, pp. 44
MacGregor 1976 No. 189
Hobbs & Jackson 2010 p. 51, fig. 39

Exhibition history

Exhibited:
2016 11 Mar- 25 Sep, Edinburgh, National Museum of Scotland, Celts.
2015-2016 24 Sep-31 Jan, London, BM, G30, 'Celts: Art and Identity' 1970 15 Oct-22 Nov, London, Hayward Gallery, Early Celtic Art 1970 22 Aug-12 Sep, Edinburgh, Royal Scottish Museum, Early Celtic Art

Acquisition name: Donated by: Sir Augustus Wollaston Franks biography
Previous owner/ex-collection: Lt-Gen Augustus W H Meyrick biography

Acquisition date: 1872

Department: Britain, Europe and Prehistory

Registration number: 1872,1213.2

Text from: www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=1394288