清乾隆 御製鐵局部鎏金梵文雙龍趕珠紋頭盔

thinly cast in iron in a dome shape, the exterior decorated in gilt with a frieze of Sanskrit characters written with raised beaded edges, interrupted by interlinked ferocious animal masks in low relief suspending beaded jewels, all between two bands of further Sanskrit characters, and evenly divided by two vertical flanges detailed with stylised parcel-gilt dragons, attached around the base with three flaps of silk cloth lined with steel plates, the front securing a lobed brim inlaid with further pairs of confronting dragons, surmounted by a tapered finial adorned with upright lappets once securing a tall finial (now missing), the iron surface oxidised to dark brown

This helmet is in reasonably good condition, but the finial is missing and the raised vertical ridge to the back of the helmet is missing. Only a 16cm section remains of the thin scroll border above the lower band of Sanskrit characters. An 18cm section of thin scroll border remains beneath the upper band of Sanskrit characters and a 12cm section remains above it and there is some damage to the end of one section of it. There is some damage to the three flaps of blue silk cloth that hang from the sides and back of the helmet.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

本品鑄刻手法精巧細緻，或與乾隆皇帝相關，應為儀式之用。儘管如此，此頭盔與戰盔一樣，在邊、頸部位均裌上鐵護板。乾隆皇帝尤以其武功為豪，老年自詡為「十全老人」。乾隆在大閱兵儀式時頂戴大閱冑，身著做工精細的配套大閱甲，可參考《乾隆皇帝大閱圖》，曾展出於「新視界 - 郎世寧與清宮西洋風」展覽，台北國立故宮博物院，2007年，編號27，畫中其身穿大閱甲胄，御駕閱兵；畫軸最近售於紐約蘇富比2008年10月8日，編號2101。耶穌會傳教士及中國宮廷畫家郎世寧，二幅名作繪乾隆皇帝頂戴類似頭盔，存於北京故宮博物院，其中一幅圖載於《故宮博物院藏文物珍品全集：清代宮廷繪畫》，香港，1996年，圖版29；另一幅展出於「紫禁城：北京故宮博物院藏皇家珍品展」，維吉尼亞美術館，里奇蒙，2014年，編號33。

此類鑄鐵鎏金銅盔，清宮舊藏存有兩例，現寶蓄北京，與整套御製大閱甲圖載於《故宮博物院藏文物珍品全集：清宮武備》，香港，2008年，圖版56和57；另見二盔鑲嵌珍珠，圖版53和55，一例缺纓絡，圖版59。芝加哥菲爾德自然史博物館藏二例，曾展出於「中國紫禁城珍藏：乾隆盛世王朝」展覽，芝加哥菲爾德自然史博物館，2004年，圖錄品號133和134，其中後者與藍底大閱甲配套。另一作例存於巴黎軍事博物館收藏，藏品清單品號G 749。還有一例售於蘇富比2013年5月15日，編號276。

乾隆祖父康熙帝最先用此類藏經紋盔。盔上鐫刻經文「心咒詛念觀世音菩薩」，追其始願，應以為保佑之意，同時以表達清代皇帝對藏傳佛教的虔誠之心。此頭盔之樣板，可參考《康熙戎裝像》中康熙帝頂戴之冑，畫軸存於台北國立故宮博物院，曾展出於「康熙大帝與太陽王路易十四特展」，台北，2011年，編號IB-2。