11th-12th century AD. A Norman or Cuman four-plate iron helmet, skilfully made to accommodate the curvature of the human head, and with a point at the apex; contoured so that the top and bottom plates overlap the side-plates by 1-2cm, with iron rivets passing through this overlap to secure them in position; the rivets worked flat into the surface of the helmet, almost invisible from the outside but detectable on the inner surface; two holes at the base of either side, possibly used for the attachment of cheek-pieces; mounted on a custom-made display stand. See Curtis, H.M., 2,500 Years of European Helmets, North Hollywood, 1978; Denny, N. & Filmer-Sankey, J., The Bayeux Tapestry, London, 1966; Kirpicnikow, A. N., ‘Russische Helme aus dem Frühen Mittelalter,’ in Waffen- und Kostamkunde, 3rd Series, Vol. 15, pt. 2, 1973; Nicolle, D., Byzantine and Islamic arms and armour; evidence for mutual influence, [in:] Warriors and their weapons around the time of the Crusades, relationship between Byzantium, the West and the Islamic world, Padstow, 2002, pp. 299-325; Menghin, W., The Merovingian Period - Europe Without Borders, Berlin, 2007, pp.326-7, item I.34.4.; D’Amato, R., ‘Old and new evidence on East-Roman helmets from the 9th to the 12th centuries,’ in Acta Militaria Medievalia, 2015, XI, pp.27-157, items fig.23, nn.1-2 and pl.1. 1.1 kg total, 28.5cm including stand (11 1/4"). Property of an East Sussex, UK, teacher; previously part of a UK collection; acquired in the 1990s; accompanied by an academic report by military expert 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.10869-179719. Helmets of this general profile and with some form of conical crest were used by the military of the Black Sea region from the 7th century onwards. The rivetted-plate construction was employed across Europe from the Migration Period through to the 12th century. It is this form which appears on the heads of English, Breton and Norman warriors in the Bayeux tapestry (Nicolle 2002, pp.308-309; Pl.VIII:A-E), and also on the heads of Eastern Roman soldiers in the famous Skilitzes Matritensis illuminated manuscript, today at the National Library of Spain, Madrid. [No Reserve] Condition Report Fine condition, some restoration. A rare example.