Antique armour helmets in India

Add as a preferred source on Google

Mumbai, Mar 9 (UNI) India's pioneering archive and auction house - Osian's has purchased a unique set of 50 fine Japanese antique armour helmets for Rs 13.45 crore (including custom duty), adding to its collection of masterpieces of Asian art.

The spectacular collection of helmets spans over seven centuries of Japanese history, which exemplifies the superb quality and attention to detail that Japanese warriors and craftsmen paid to their trade. Helmets were not just made to protect the head, but also to intimidate one's enemies and impress one's allies, a release here said yesterday.

Osian's Connoisseurs of Art Pvt Ltd Chairman Neville Tuli said ''These Samurai artworks are probably the most important single collection purchased for the Osianama Collection so far. It will become a major link between the Indian and Japanese cultural intelligentsia and public in the coming years.

''I am convinced that the Indian public will fall in love and be fascinated by these art works representing the proud tradition of the great warriors in battle rarely seen in the history of human kind. Just as the link between non-violence and creativity is a major focus of our archive, so is the link between violence and creativity. At the Osianama, Gandhiji will sit comfortably besides the Samurai,'' he said.

The collection comprises helmets which are extremely traditional in style, while some are so bizarre that they are futuristic even by today's standards. These helmets have been primarily sourced from museums, old collections and private institutions and are museum-quality pieces.

The collection will be exhibited for public viewing at three major exhibitions -- one at the Opening Preview of the 9th Osian's Cinefan Film Festival of Asian and Arab Cinema on June 8, at the NCPA in Mumbai; two -- during the 9th Osian's - Cinefan Film Festival held between July 20- July 29 at Siri Fort Complex, New Delhi and third at the opening of the Osianama in early 2008, as a major highlight of the Archive Collection, the release added.