HELMET AND BREATHER TROOP OF THE 4th REGIMENT OF CUIRASSIERS, model 1872 modified 1874, Third Republic. 26383/26385
HELMET entirely in steel with brass fittings.
Bomb, made of molten and pressed steel sheet, pierced at the top with three suction cup holes. Marked by the manufacturer “HELBRONNER PARIS”, size “57”.
Visor, 5.5 cm wide, lined with a 6 mm wide brass ring placed astride its edges.
Neck cover composed of a circular strip on its flat, welded under the rear edge of the strip which it extends, comprising three gilded brass nails with half-spherical heads riveted on the inside; a second concave strip, forming a groove, with rounded and welded angles on the inside, at the bottom of the first, bordered by a copper crimp placed astride.
Headband, in brass, 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.
Each chin strap is made up of 15 copper scales cut alternately with three or two festoons decreasing in width, fixed by wire crampons, flattened on a leather core lined with a black sheepskin (maximum width 3.5 cm, minimum width 1.9 cm). The right chin strap is fitted at its end with a small riveted copper plate to which a buckle also made of copper is attached. At the end of the left one there is a similar plate enclosing a copper D topped with a black varnished calfskin strap. The upper scale of each chin strap is covered with a copper rosette, circular in shape (diameter 4.5 cm) representing four rushes in relief.
Copper crest composed of two fins, a mask and a cover fixed with four screws (two per fin). Fins 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.
Mask serving as an anterior junction to the two fins by means of a weld, stamped with a Medusa head in relief. The cover, also embossed, represents the continuation of the hair of Medusa's head with intertwined serpents. Ornament of the crest composed of: a socket and a lens formed of two shells stamped with flowers and palm leaves. Attached to the front of the crest and supporting a red horsehair tuft puff.
Black horsehair mane about 86 cm in length.
Stamped copper plume holder, H 3.5 cm, forming a socket, fixed obliquely, from bottom to top, to the bomb, a little in front of the left jugular, by means of two tapped rods crossing the bomb.
Brown eight-tooth waxed leather interior trim with brass eyelets.
CUIRASSE troop of Cuirassiers, model 1855 modified 1891, Third Republic.
Cast steel, soaked in rapeseed oil and blue annealed in a sand bath. Curved shape at the waist, the base has a flared shape; the busk of the breastplate is accentuated and the edge of the backrest pronounced. The breastplate is trimmed with 4 brass rivets, and the backrest with 6.
Outside, breastplate registered "1140". It is signed inside "Mre d'armes de Châtt" "Mai 1877" "2nd size extra width n° 2" "n° 3897". Each of the two suspenders has a body in black cowhide, trimmed with two brass chains; the body is finished with a brass buttonhole plate with a heart-shaped leather tip; the suspender holder is made of brass with 3 rivets.
File numbered "207". It is signed inside "Mre Imple de Châtt" "7bre 1862" "2nd size 1st width" "n° 954".
France.
Third Republic.
Good condition, leather shoulder pads and belt changed later.
Reference :
26383/26385