CUIRASSIER OFFICER'S HELMET, model 1872 modified 1874, in its transport box, Third Republic. 25155
COMPOUND HELMET: 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 stamped with a pendulum, in chromed brass hammered, pierced at the top with three holes-suction cups.
Visor inclined at 53 degrees below a horizontal plane passing through the junction of the visor and the shell. Bordered by a 7.6 mm wide gilt copper circle placed astride its edges and fixed at the ends by a rivet. Underside of visor sheathed in green leather. Visor width 5 cm.
Neck cover composed of: a circular band on its flat, welded under the posterior edge of the band which it extends, it has three gilt brass nails with half-spherical heads riveted inside; a second concave band, forming a groove, with rounded angles and welded inside, at the bottom of the first. Like the visor, the neck cover is bordered by a 7 mm wide gilt copper setting, placed on horseback. It is lined with a brown morocco.
Headband, in gilded copper, stamped with a flaming pomegranate surrounded by laurel leaves, adherent 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 chinstrap. H of the headband at the front 6.5 cm.
Each jugular is made up of 9 sheets of cut copper ornament, stamped in relief with laurel leaves, which decrease in width (max. width 4.2 cm, min. width 2 cm). These scales are fixed by iron wire clamps, flattened on a leather core lined with black velvet.
At the other end, black patent calfskin strap.
Upper shell of each chinstrap 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 surmounted by a gilded copper crest composed of two fins, a mask and a covering.
The fins, placed vertically at a distance of 3.2 cm from each other in front and 2.5 cm behind, have the shape of a curved curvilinear triangle 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 4 copper screws (2 per fin) with round head in drop of tallow which are stopped inside the helmet by square copper nuts.
The fins are adorned with palmettes and a fillet at their upper edge; the rim is decorated with water leaves, all stamped in relief.
A tin-plated plate joins the upper edges of the fins, fixing the spacing between them.
The mask serving as an anterior junction to the two fins by means of a weld, is stamped with a head of Medusa in relief. The cover, also stamped, represents the continuation of the hair of Medusa's head with intertwined serpents.
Ornament of the crest consisting of a socket 2.4 cm high, diameter 4.6 cm, stamped with water leaves in relief and a lens 2.5 high and 1.9 cm in diameter, formed of two stamped shells. Attached to the front of the crest and supporting a red horsehair tuft puff (H 5 cm).
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 empty space between the two rows of horsehair is filled by a braid which starts from the top and follows the curve of the crest until it joins the crown. Mane length 50 cm.
Stamped copper plume holder, H 3.5 cm, forming a socket with a square section, fixed obliquely.
Interior trim in glossy black leather, cut with seven wolf teeth, each trimmed with a metal eyelet and on their outer edge gilded with iron.
PLUME
Officer's plume in scarlet feathers, H of the feathers 17 cm, mounted on a whale with steel spring, total H 25 cm. Olive pompom in gold cannetilles 3 cm high.
TRANSPORT BOX
Rectangular in shape, in wood covered with black paper, with brass hinges and handle, interior trim in ivory chamois leather. Length 37 cm, width 33 cm, H 23 cm.
France.
Third Republic.
Helmet in very good condition, slight wear to the chrome, brass parts having kept their gilding; ornament of the crest unsoldered at its base but complete; worn inner cap; plume in very good condition; olive pompom in mint condition (modern reproduction); box in good condition, split on its lid and on the bottom.
Reference :
25155