HELMET OF THE 2nd COMPANY OF THE KING'S MILITARY HOUSE MOUSQUETAIRES, KNOWN AS THE BLACK MOUSQUETAIRES, MODEL 1814, RESTORATION PERIOD.
The helmet measures 15 cm in height, with silver-plated copper fittings. It has a round shape, unlike the helmets of the First Empire which are referred to as minerve-shaped.
The lower part of the helmet, at the front, is adorned with a band framed by prominent and striated moldings with the motto "ALTERIUS JOVIS ALTERA" embossed in relief on a sandblasted background (The others foudres of another Jupiter), with a height of 2.3 cm on the sides and 4.5 cm at the front.
At the back, the band is identical but without a motto, adorned with foliate scrolls (2.3 cm in height on the sides and 3.3 cm at the center).
The frontal plate is in the shape of a musketeer's cross, 15 cm in diameter. It consists of two parts: one in gilded brass representing the outer molding of the cross finished with fleur-de-lis, the other in silver-plated copper representing the sandblasted background of the cross, with the four corners adorned with five flames distinguishing the second company of Mousquetaires (some areas show signs of wear).
The visor is round (5.5 cm wide), silver-plated copper lined with green morocco leather with a 7 mm wide silver-plated brass strip folded over the outer edge and riveted in four places. The neck guard, also silver-plated copper, is edged with a similar brass strip as the visor (but riveted in two places) and lined with brown waxed morocco leather.
The chin straps consist of a chin piece (approximately 18 cm in length, maximum width 5.4 cm, minimum width 1.8 cm) covered in black velvet and adorned with 19 alternately cut silvered scales in 4 and 3 scallops (leather and velvet have been restored). They are finished with a fringed silver passementerie tassel (posterior); and a silver-plated copper rosette representing a bundle of ten thunderbolts (8.1 cm in height, 7 cm in width), with a Minerva helmeted head affixed in the center to attach the chin straps to the helmet (2.2 cm in height, 1.5 cm in width).
The crest consists of two fins and a mask. Each fin is stamped on each side with a sequence of 16 decreasing caissons towards the rear, embossed with acanthus leaves and arrows, with the upper edges cut into curved scallops, and the base of the fins cut into scallops and secured to the helmet on each side by four conical-headed screws. The height of the fins is 12.2 cm; at the front, the mask is similarly decorated with a cloud at the top from which two lightning bolts descend, with a height of 11.5 cm, a width of 6 cm at the top, 6.2 cm at the bottom, and 3.5 cm at the center. The mask is attached to the helmet with the top of the frontal cross by means of a threaded rod.
The mane, made of black horsehair, is cut into a brush shape (7 cm in height) occupying the entire top of the crest and ending at the back with a floating tail (approximately 40 cm in length).
The interior liner has a leather band topped with black silk.
In very good condition.
France.
Restoration period.
Reference :
10174