From the Artist--
"During the 1st Century BC and 1st Century A.D., large amounts of cavalry were recruited into Roman service from the Celtic peoples in Gaul and Hispana.  As a result, many Celtic cavalry traditions were assimilated into the Roman military system.  The Parade Cavalry Helmet is one piece of equipment which has such roots.  These masked helmets were originally thought to be used only for the Cavalry Sports (Hippika Gymnasia) used to keep mounted units trained during times of peace.  There is growing evidence that earlier masked helmets (1st centuries B.C. and A.D.) were used for combat.  This should not be surprising, since a Roman historian from around the early 2nd Century A.D. describes a unit of heavy cavalry fighting the Romans in the Middle East. This unit was heavily armoured, even to extent of wearing lifelike metal masks to protect their faces.

The metal hair texture sculpted into my Cavalry helmet (and many other Roman Cavalry helmets) is actually predated by helmets which had actual braided hair decorating the surface.  One such helmet was recently found in a dried-up portion of the Rhine.  It is not yet clear whether such helmets were always used with masks; it does make sense that if a helmet is decorated with a lifelike motif of hair, for it to be equipped with a lifelike mask.

"Another Celtic tradition exhibited on my Cavalry Helmet is that of the monument showing a particular rider in battle. Romanized Celts made many of these in stone to mark graves of accomplished horse soldiers. The images on the helmet are worked in using repousse.  On the right cheek piece is shown Tiberius Claudius Maximus capturing the Dacian king from Trajan's Column.  On the left cheek piece is an image of Flavius Bassus from his grave marker.

"The applied brass decorations, such as the laurel wreath and the earguards, appear to be from Roman influence. These helmets made for an impressive sight, whether used in battle or on the Sport field, and must've had some effect on morale both for the rider and the enemies he faced.  The masked helmets also gave extra protection, from the dull javelins used in the Hippika Gymnasia or the lethal weapons of the battlefield."