HELMET OF THE SECOND COMPANY OF MUSKETEERS OF THE KING'S MILITARY HOUSEHOLD, KNOWN AS THE BLACK MUSKETEERS, 1814 model, Restoration period. 29237

HELMET OF THE SECOND COMPANY OF THE KING'S MILITARY HOUSE MOUSQUETAIRES, KNOWN AS THE BLACK MOUSQUETAIRES, model 1814, Restoration. Inventory number 29237

Bomb (H 15 cm) and fittings in silver-plated copper, it is round in shape unlike the helmets of the First Empire which are in a minerva form.
The lower part of the bomb at the front is adorned with a band framed by prominent and grooved moldings with the motto "ALTERIUS JOVIS ALTERA" embossed in relief on a sanded background (The others furies of another Jupiter), H 2.3 cm on the sides, 4.5 cm at the front.
At the back, the band is similar but without a motto, adorned with foliage corollas (H 2.3 cm on the sides and 3.3 cm in the center).
Front plate in the shape of a musketeer cross with a diameter of 15 cm. It is composed of two parts: one in gilded brass representing the outer molding of the cross ending with fleur-de-lis, the other, in silver-plated copper, represents the background of the sanded cross with its four corners adorned with five flames distinguishing the second company of Mousquetaires (some parts missing).
Round visor (width 5.5 cm) in silver-plated copper lined with green morocco leather with a silver-plated brass edging (width 7 mm) folded over the outer edge and riveted in four places. Nape cover in silver-plated copper edged with a similar brass edging as the visor (but riveted in two places) and lined with brown waxed morocco leather.
Chinstraps made up of a chin strap (length approximately 18 cm, maximum width 5.4 cm and minimum 1.8 cm) in leather covered with black velvet and covered with 19 silvered scales cut alternately in 4 and 3 festoons, ending with a fringe tassel in silver trimmings (posterior); a rosette in silver-plated copper representing a bundle of ten furies (H 8.1 cm, width 7 cm), in the center of the rosette is an image of a helmeted Minerva head designed to attach the chinstraps to the bomb (H 2.2 cm, width 1.5 cm).
Crest composed of two finials and a mask. Each finial is stamped on each side with a series of 16 decreasing panels towards the back, embossed with an acanthus leaf and an arrow, the upper edges being cut into curved festoons, the base of the finials is cut into festoons and fixed to the bomb with four conical-headed screws on each side. Height of the finials 12.2 cm; at the front, the mask is similarly decorated with a cloud at the top from which two lightning bolts descend, height of the mask 11.5 cm, width at the top 6 cm, width at the bottom 6.2 cm, width in the center 3.5 cm. The mask is fixed to the bomb with the top of the front cross by means of a threaded rod.
Mane, in black horsehair, cut into a brush (H 7 cm) covering the entire top of the crest and ending at the back with a floating tail (length approximately 44 cm).
Interior lining with a leather band topped with black silk, the leather part is gilded with "Mr The Cte of S.M." (abbreviation for Monsieur le Comte de Sa Majesté - Mister the Count of His Majesty in English).

France.
Restoration period.
Very good condition, leather and velvet of the chinstraps restored, chinstrap tassels in silver trimmings are replacements, three scales replaced; small missing part at the base of the right side mask of the crest; small 3 mm crack at the base of the right finial of the crest, very slight missing tip at the end of three points of the right rosette; inner lining worn with some defects.