HELMET FOR THE REPUBLICAN GUARD ON HORSEBACK, model 1876, Third Republic. 27813-1

TROOPER HELMET OF THE REPUBLICAN GUARD ON HORSEBACK, model 1876, Third Republic. 27813-1

Helmet entirely made of steel. It consists of a shell marked "3/102" and stamped by Bernard Franck et fils in Aubervilliers, a visor and a neck protector both encircled by a brass rim folded over the outer edge, a headband, two chinstraps, a crest, a mane made of black horsehair approximately 74 cm long, and a plume holder. All fittings are made of brass.
The one-piece shell is stamped. It is pierced on the inside with 4 vent holes for ventilation. Visor and neck protector.
The front headband is embossed in relief with two laurel branches tied together by a ribbon; in the center, above the branches, the coat of arms of the City of Paris is depicted.
The crest consists of two wings embossed in relief with a decreasing series of gadroons surrounded by a beaded ribbon and separated by acanthus leaves and a fleuron. Each wing is attached to the shell by two brass screws; the mask is embossed with 4 horizontally grooved ribbons separated by three smooth ribbons, at the bottom a palmette is embossed in relief and at the top a Medusa head, also embossed in relief; the top of the crest is partly covered at the front with an "overlay plate" representing the hair of Medusa's head, resoldered on the sides and pierced at the front.
Ornament of the crest consisting of a brass olive embossed with foliage, a brass socket embossed with laurel leaves, and a scarlet horsehair plume 5 cm high. This ornament is attached to the crest by means of a threaded brass rod.
The chinstraps are made up of two chin pieces in strong cowhide leather covered with black waxed Morocco leather and each covered with fifteen scalloped brass scales alternately with two or three scallops and fastened to the leather. At the lower end, the last scale is rounded, and at the outer end, the scale has two embossed scallops in one piece with a round-shaped rosette. The chinstraps are fastened to the shell by a lock and are connected to each other by a leather strap changed at a later date. Tubular plume holder made of square-sectioned brass slightly tapering downwards.
Interior leather liner cut into six scallops with eyelets.

France.
Third Republic.
Very good condition, slight signs of wear, missing linings for the visor and neck protector.