Brothers in arms
Helmets, breastplates, swords and shields, spears, greaves and all the various other paraphernalia of bloodshed and military ceremony: often these objects are extraordinarily beautiful (and mightily cool) in their own right, and the stories each has to tell strike the heart. A real, breathing person once wielded that short-sword; wore and polished that helmet; spent five months of his soldier’s pay to embellish that cuirass. It takes no great study of history to appreciate so essential a connection: through such objects real people, and lived lives, can be yours to touch across time; though steer clear of the dealer offering to sell you the Shield of Achilles.
The value of craftsmanship
The market in the ancient arms of the Greeks, Romans, Persians, Hittites, Egyptians and beyond never really falters. Nor do the returns that owners of these works can expect. Outrageous prices are common for the second-rate in the contemporary art market. Yet here one can invest in the best at comparatively reasonable prices – for now, at least.
Auction results, though only the most visible part of the story, are revealing, and doubly so in the uncommon circumstance that an object has been offered publicly on more than one occasion. It is not unusual to see estimates or earlier results doubled, tripled and quadrupled on pieces of particularly rare type, and especially when that type is one of especially appealing aesthetics. A Corinthian bronze helmet of the much sought-after Hermione type sold at Sotheby’s New York in 1990 for $115,500, and again in 2007 for $270,000. The piece was incomplete, heavily restored, and of middling quality; yet the beauty and rarity of the type drove its value higher.
Outstanding works obtain outstanding results, time and again. At Christie’s in 2010 alone, the Crosby Garrett Roman cavalry parade mask and helmet, offered in London after its discovery in Cumbria, fetched the attention of the British public – and £2.3m, while an exquisitely etched and crested bronze Cretan helmet took $842,500 in New York. Quality, rarity and importance overlapped equally in both pieces.
Real people, and lived lives, can be yours to touch across time
Gird yourself for battle
More and more museum collections and auction results are being made available online. Whether you are looking to buy at auction, from a dealer, or through private arrangement, the scope for easy comparison of similar or related artworks is large.
Ask important questions: how many exist? Which museums have examples, and in what condition? How often does such a thing appear on the market? How many available examples are of comparable quality to the piece?
Few have the time for immersive study, but a knowledgeable and reliable dealer can fill this gap, and you should not hesitate to ask questions. If trustworthy they should be happy to guide you in acquainting yourself with the subject, and in your purchases, regardless of their own interest. As ‘pro tips’ go, ask the seller for an X-ray: with arms and armour especially these can reveal a piece’s genuine quality and condition, highlighting its original craft and any later restoration. These can also be as beautiful as they are useful.
A gathering of arms
A collection of ancient arms and armour can be eclectic, encyclopaedic and scholarly, or very esoteric. Hedge fund manager Christian Levett amassed a wonderful trove, numerous and far-ranging, upon which he founded the Mougins Museum of Classical Art in 2011. But unless you have immense wealth and intend to open a museum, too, you need to choose between quantity and quality. If beauty is what drives you, then learn what is out there, and keep the bar strict and high.
If the treasure you have in mind is something not often seen, of beautiful craft and condition, better than many museum pieces, unlikely to be bettered on the market and presently available for purchase, then the ancient Greeks would call this ho kairos – the supreme and opportune moment. Seize it. Once gone, the market may never see its like again.
For more information: kallosgallery.com
