Gondorian Helm Col. | Sculptors: R. Asquith, P. Fickling | Edition Size: 1000 | product page
::Sculptural Quality::

This collection consists of four helms (pictured above from left to right): Helm of Faramir, Fountain Guard, Citadel Guard and Gondorian Soldier. Three sculpted by Rebecca Asquith with Philip Fickling tackling the duties for Faramir. With its massive “winged” ceremonial feathers (done in metal, by the way), the Fountain Guard helm asks for serious attention– though all are spectacular in detail. The Gondorian gull wing motif is prominent on all, with the White Tree and Stars adornments logically reserved only for Faramir.

Curiously, Faramir’s Helm is the smallest of the four. I partly attribute this to simply being the inherent differences among two sculptors. On closer inspection you can see that by design, the helm has a less pronounced point at the top and lacks the substantial curved neck guard in the rear, all of which contribute to make the helm slight in appearance.

The Citadel Guard helm may be my favorite. It’s the most ornate piece of the set, yet still functional for battle unlike the extreme Fountain Guard. The intricate combination of tightly detailed embellishments and golden highlights make it a true stunner. The Gondorian Soldier piece is the most pedestrian of all, but still a wonderful design in its own right.

::Paint Application::

Extremely tidy application, especially where it counts- in all of the miniature inlays, the gold paint rarely strays. Really quite impressed by this. This solid attention to detail goes a long way to lending a sense of timeless quality to this set of helms. Folks aggravated by the distressed and battle-worn look of previous helms (such as Elendil and Isildur’s) can rejoice as the Gondorians are presented as well preserved artifacts.

::Parting Notes::

The helms come as a set- all housed in one box, sharing the same edition number. The right combination of desirability and execution will keep this set wildly sought-after for a long time to come.

Related:

• Gondorian Helm Collection product page at Sideshow Collectibles
• Elendil bust review
• Back to the Review Index