The ornate embossed sheet bronze face plate is of a type known as cavalry sports helmets which would have been worn at parades, military exercises, mock training battles and at times on the real battlefield.
This example consigned by an English collector was thoroughly provenanced and analysed, and in very fine restored condition.
Guided at £20,000-30,000, it attracted wide bidding which came down to a competition between a Californian and a Russian collector, victory going to the American at £40,000.
