February 24, 2022 10:00 EST
The Gilded Age
48
A Brass Helmet of the Honourable Corps of Gentleman-at-Arms
The skull applied with elaborate gilt metal oak and olive foliage over its full surface, gilded with gilt-metal helmet plate with Queen's crown over the Royal Arms mounted on a white metal rayed star, with foliate sheathed plume holder (the plume a later replacement), lion mask ear rosettes (lacking chin scales), the front and back peaks lined in green leather, the interior with helmet lining intact and handwritten label 'Lord Ellenborough.'
H: 11, W: 8 3/4, D: 10 1/4 in. (without tassel); H: 17 in. (with tassel)
Provenance
Collection of a Virginia gentleman.
Sold for $2,268
Estimated at $2,000 - $3,000
The skull applied with elaborate gilt metal oak and olive foliage over its full surface, gilded with gilt-metal helmet plate with Queen's crown over the Royal Arms mounted on a white metal rayed star, with foliate sheathed plume holder (the plume a later replacement), lion mask ear rosettes (lacking chin scales), the front and back peaks lined in green leather, the interior with helmet lining intact and handwritten label 'Lord Ellenborough.'
Provenance
Collection of a Virginia gentleman.
Note
The tradition of the Honourable Corps of Gentleman-at-Arms was first established by King Henry VIII in 1509 with the purpose of serving as bodyguards to the acting monarch.
Lord Ellenborough may refer to Henry Law, 7th Baron of Ellenborough (1889–1945).
For a related example, see Christie's, New York, April 4, 2003, lot 564.
