TRUMPET HELMET OR DRAGON DRUM, First Empire, circa 1806-1812. 27975
The round brass bomb, the bottom is fitted with a gutter to prevent water infiltration under the turban. The turban consists of a leather headband; it is covered with marine seal skin. Tightening buckle at the back. The visor is made of black waxed leather, it is surrounded by a brass ring, it is sewn to the turban. The chinstraps are made up of two parts: the chin strap in soft leather, sheathed in leather, covered with 15 brass scales, cut into 3 festoons; the rosette is made of stamped brass in the shape of a palmette. The plume holder is gilded brass with a tubular shape. The crest is in brass with stamped decorations: the fins are struck with gadroons; at the top of the mask is represented a head of jellyfish and at the bottom, a small palmette; the cover plate is made of smooth brass. The egret holder, composed of three parts: a socket and a stamped brass lens, from which a white horsehair egret emerges. The mane, white horsehair. Inner headdress composed of a leather band topped with a canvas band.
In a perfect state.
France.
First Empire period, circa 1806-1810.
ORIGIN :
Former VAISSIER collection in Paris (1950-1970), then Christian BLONDIEAU.
NOTE :
Trumpet helmets from the First Empire are of the greatest rarity. We only know of four authentic copies:
• A copy of a light horse lance trumpet 1810, in the collections of the Army Museum in Paris.
• A specimen of a trumpet of the dragoons of the Imperial Guard model 1806, from the former Cochelin collection, and preserved in a private French collection.
• A copy of a dragon trumpet 1806-1810, from the former Brunon collection, belonging to the collections of the Army Museum in Salon de Provence. Authentic helmet but changed mane.
• The helmet presented here.
Reference :
27975/14832 inst