DRAGONS OFFICER'S HELMET, model 1872 modified 1874, in its transport box, Third Republic. 25154
HELMET COMPOSED: of a bomb; a visor; a neck covering; a copper headband; two chinstraps; a crest; a mane; a pen holder; a crest ornament and interior trim.
Bomb pressed on the balance, in chrome-plated metal flattened with a hammer, pierced at the top with three suction cup holes.
Visor inclined at 53 degrees below a horizontal plane passing through the junction of the visor and the bomb. Bordered with a 7.6 mm wide gilded copper circle placed astride its edges and fixed at the ends with a rivet. Under visor covered in green leather. Visor width 5 cm.
Neck cover composed of: a circular strip on its flat, welded under the rear edge of the strip which it extends, it has three gilded brass nails with half-spherical heads riveted on the inside; a second concave strip, forming a groove, with rounded corners welded on the inside, at the bottom of the first. Like the visor, the neck cover is bordered with a 7 mm wide gilded copper setting, placed on horseback. It is lined with brown morocco.
Headband, in gilded copper, stamped with a flaming grenade surrounded by laurel leaves, adhering to the bomb. Its base rests on the visor and its ends are riveted to the bomb in the part hidden by the rosette of the chin strap. H of the headband at the front 6.5 cm.
Each chin strap is made up of 9 ornamental leaves in cut copper, stamped in relief with laurel leaves, which decrease in width (maximum width 4.2 cm, minimum width 2 cm). These scales are fixed by wire crampons, flattened on a leather core lined with black velvet.
At the other end, black patent calfskin strap.
Upper scale of each chin strap ending in a rounded part stamped with a circular rosette depicting laurel leaves in relief (diameter of the rosette 5.3 cm), rosette fixed to the bomb by means of a lock.
The bomb is topped with a gilded copper crest composed of two fins, a mask and a covering.
The fins, placed vertically at a distance from each other of 3.2 cm in front and 2.5 cm in back, have the shape of a curvilinear triangle convex at its upper part and which connects with the bomb by its concave base forming a scalloped rim.
This flange is fixed to the bomb by means of 8 screws (4 per fin) in copper with round head in drop of tallow which are stopped inside the helmet by square copper nuts.
The fins are decorated with palmettes and a net at their upper edge; the rim is decorated with water leaves, all stamped in relief.
A tin-plated sheet metal plate joins the upper edges of the fins, fixing their spacing.
The mask serving as the anterior junction of the two fins by means of welding, is stamped with a Medusa head in relief. The covering, also stamped, represents the continuation of the hair of Medusa's head with intertwined serpents.
Mane of black-dyed horsehair, mounted on a strong fed cowhide leather sole, in which the horsehair is assembled by tinned brass threads with a piece of sheepskin glued to the assembly with strong glue; the space left empty between the two rows of horsehair is filled by a braid which starts from the top and follows the curve of the crest to its junction with the crown. Mane length approximately 55 cm.
Stamped copper feather holder, H 3.5 cm, forming a square section socket, fixed obliquely.
Interior trim in glossy brown leather, cut with seven wolf teeth, each trimmed with a metal eyelet and on their outer edge gilded with iron.
PLUME
Staff officer plume in tricolor curly rooster feathers, H of the feathers 12 cm, mounted on a whale with steel spring, total H 20 cm. Olive pompom in golden cannetille threads, 3 cm high.
TRANSPORT BOX
Square in shape, in wood covered with black paper, with brass hinges and handle, interior trim in ivory chamois leather. Length 32 cm, width 32 cm, H 22 cm.
France.
Third Republic.
Helmet in very good condition, slight wear to the chrome, brass parts having retained their gilding; crest ornament unwelded at its base but complete; inner headdress worn; plume rib broken, glued back together, otherwise feathers in very good condition; olive pompom in new condition (modern reproduction); box in good condition, split on its lid and on the bottom.
Reference :
25154