DRAGON OFFICER'S HELMET, FIRST EMPIRE (1808-1812).
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DRAGON OFFICER'S HELMET, FIRST EMPIRE (1808-1812).
The gilded brass bomb measures approximately 110mm deep; it leans backwards, the bottom is lined with a 3/4 mm wide gutter to prevent water infiltration under the turban.
The turban consists of a leather band approximately 100 mm high at the front and 75 mm at the sides at the level of the rosettes and 97 mm at the back. Covered with real panther skin (old skin but replaced later).
The visor is made of leather covered with skin, it is surrounded by a gilded brass ring, it measures 10 mm long, it is sewn to the turban and forms its extension.
The chinstraps are made up of two parts: the chin strap in soft leather, covered in black velvet, covered with 18 gold-plated copper scales (one is missing on one side), cut into 3 festoons (the widest measures 54 mm and the narrowest 17 mm); the rosette stamped and cut in the shape of a palmette, in gilded brass, 60 mm in diameter. Finished with golden cords.
Tubular plume holder decreasing slightly downwards, it is equipped with a tightening screw to fix the plume. Height 57 mm.
The crest is in gilded brass with stamped decorations: the fins have a maximum height of 120 mm, width 43 mm, each of them is struck with 9 gadroons; the mask is — mm wide; at the top, a medusa head is represented and at the bottom, there is an "N" in silver (height 27 mm, width 22 mm), topped with an imperial crown in stamped silver (height 28 mm, width 27 mm). ).
Aigrette holder, composed of an olive 25 mm high and 65 mm in diameter, it is formed of 10 strips of gilded brass riveted together, alternately garnished with foliage or stamped in relief with geometric designs; a socket stamped with palmette; height 40 mm, diameter 28 mm; egret in black horsehair, height 70 mm.
Mane in black horsehair, length 550 mm.
Inner headdress composed of a fine leather band (60 mm high) topped with a silk band (90 mm high).
Very good condition, beautiful period gilding, some traces of friction on the bomb.
Total height 360 mm.
First Empire period.
NOTE :
At the beginning of the Empire, the shape of the bomb of the helmet of dragoon officers was round, the crest quite straight; around 1808, the crest became more curved and the mask was generally completed with an N surmounted by an imperial crown, both in silver. From 1810, the so-called “Minerva” shape was widely used, the bomb rose considerably, it was thrown back and the crest rose. Around 1814, the neck cover appeared. In the space of ten years, we went from a comfortable and relatively stable helmet to an imposing headdress, superb for parades, but very embarrassing for war! This short evolution will influence fashion until 1872, when a new model will take the dimensions of the helmets of the Old Monarchy. It therefore took almost a century to realize that the first models were the best proportioned.
The gilded brass bomb measures approximately 110mm deep; it leans backwards, the bottom is lined with a 3/4 mm wide gutter to prevent water infiltration under the turban.
The turban consists of a leather band approximately 100 mm high at the front and 75 mm at the sides at the level of the rosettes and 97 mm at the back. Covered with real panther skin (old skin but replaced later).
The visor is made of leather covered with skin, it is surrounded by a gilded brass ring, it measures 10 mm long, it is sewn to the turban and forms its extension.
The chinstraps are made up of two parts: the chin strap in soft leather, covered in black velvet, covered with 18 gold-plated copper scales (one is missing on one side), cut into 3 festoons (the widest measures 54 mm and the narrowest 17 mm); the rosette stamped and cut in the shape of a palmette, in gilded brass, 60 mm in diameter. Finished with golden cords.
Tubular plume holder decreasing slightly downwards, it is equipped with a tightening screw to fix the plume. Height 57 mm.
The crest is in gilded brass with stamped decorations: the fins have a maximum height of 120 mm, width 43 mm, each of them is struck with 9 gadroons; the mask is — mm wide; at the top, a medusa head is represented and at the bottom, there is an "N" in silver (height 27 mm, width 22 mm), topped with an imperial crown in stamped silver (height 28 mm, width 27 mm). ).
Aigrette holder, composed of an olive 25 mm high and 65 mm in diameter, it is formed of 10 strips of gilded brass riveted together, alternately garnished with foliage or stamped in relief with geometric designs; a socket stamped with palmette; height 40 mm, diameter 28 mm; egret in black horsehair, height 70 mm.
Mane in black horsehair, length 550 mm.
Inner headdress composed of a fine leather band (60 mm high) topped with a silk band (90 mm high).
Very good condition, beautiful period gilding, some traces of friction on the bomb.
Total height 360 mm.
First Empire period.
NOTE :
At the beginning of the Empire, the shape of the bomb of the helmet of dragoon officers was round, the crest quite straight; around 1808, the crest became more curved and the mask was generally completed with an N surmounted by an imperial crown, both in silver. From 1810, the so-called “Minerva” shape was widely used, the bomb rose considerably, it was thrown back and the crest rose. Around 1814, the neck cover appeared. In the space of ten years, we went from a comfortable and relatively stable helmet to an imposing headdress, superb for parades, but very embarrassing for war! This short evolution will influence fashion until 1872, when a new model will take the dimensions of the helmets of the Old Monarchy. It therefore took almost a century to realize that the first models were the best proportioned.
Reference :
2299
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