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A Medieval Great Helm, a Terracota Horse, and Odin’s Head go up for auction

Apollo Art Auctions is holding its Ancient Art and Antiquities auction on Sunday, November 18th. Dozens of medieval items will be going up for bid. Here are a few of the featured items going up for sale.

Lot 232: Dating from circa 1300-1400 AD, a riveted iron great helm. Designed with a barrel-like design intended to protect a knight’s head in combat. Interesting to note that helmets were important elements of medieval knightly armour and often were included on the owner’s funerary monument. A similar example is seen in the collection of The Deutsches Historisches Museum in Berlin. The provenance includes a Central London gallery; a European collector; and the collection of Ing Peter Till, which was formed in 1980s Vienna. Opening bid: £10,000.

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Lot 194: A Byzantine (circa 500-800 AD) solid gold cameo ring with a gold bezel securing a square banded agate cameo with the symbol of the CHI-RO inside a round laurel crown. A similar example can be seen in J. Spier’s 2012 reference Byzantium and the West: Jewelry in the First Millennium, No. 14. Most recently with a London gallery, it was previously acquired on the Monaco art market; and was part of a French collection from the 1970s. Opening bid: £4,000.

Lot 393: Another exceptional artwork is a TL-tested Chinese Tang Dynasty terracotta horse, stretching its head upward and baring its teeth as though emitting a neigh through curled lips. Its body is painted mainly with red pigments, with details such as a mane, tail, saddle cloth and saddle. Its provenance includes a UK private collection; and acquisition by a former owner in the early 1990s in Hong Kong. Opening bid: £3,000.

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Lot 233: A very well-detailed gold filigree pendant in the shape of Odin’s head. A great example of the care Vikings took of their appearance and presentation. With beading implemented to form facial features and hair. Its weight is 10.66g. It became the property of a London ancient art gallery after residing in a private collection that was formed in 1965-1975. Opening bid: £2,000.

You can check out the entire auction on the Apollo Art Auctions website

 

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