Original Franco-Prussian War Era Prussian Line Cuirassier Regiment Front & Back Armor Set with Lion’s Head Strap Bales & Rare Padded Lining
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Original Item: One-of-a-Kind. This is an exceptional and very difficult-to-find complete set of Prussian Line Cuirassier armor, consisting of the matching front and rear polished steel cuirass plates together with the original padded linings and surviving leather-backed brass shoulder scales used to connect the two sections for wear. Complete sets retaining this much of their original suspension and interior padding are especially scarce. This set dates to the Franco-Prussian War period, and this pattern was worn by the Prussian Liner Cuirassier regiments.
The front plate of armor retains its padded lining though it is entirely detached from the plate now. It consists of a quilted padded body with black and white trim along the edges which is now loose due to loss. The lining can be moved to inspect the back of the plate itself including the central rivets for the bales that the shoulder scales attach to. The brass bosses along the edges are all connected by a small fabric strip along its back with washers on top of it. There is some denting to the front of the front plate.
The back plate of armor is the piece that the leather and brass shoulder scales are attached to, attached by a hinge to the lion’s head bosses at the shoulders. Both of these retain the original leather-backed shoulder scales, but there is some damage with wear and cracking to the leather and detachment of some of the leather pieces at the back. One side is a bit weaker than the other, with some scattered loss of leather in spots on the backs. One of the two lion’s head bosses has a hook attached to the hinge.
The lining of the plate is much better-retained on the rear piece of armor, with some small areas of detachment but the lining is still well-secured to the armor. There are leather straps to the sides at the hips, the receiving end of which has broken off. The broken off strap is still included. As shown, we did attach the armor to a mannequin and connect the pieces together, and they can still sit for display, but understand that doing so only weakens the leather backing, so the set should be better preserved for display.
Prussian cuirassier regiments retained polished steel body armor as part of their distinctive heavy cavalry equipment through the 19th century, including the period surrounding the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-1871. The combination of polished steel plates, brass-scaled shoulder straps, decorative lion-head fittings, and substantial internal padding reflects both the protective and ceremonial character of cuirassier equipment during this period.
The survival of the front and rear plates together with both lion-head shoulder fittings, brass scale straps, extensive original leather backing, hip straps, and especially the rare quilted padded linings makes this an unusually complete set of Prussian cuirassier armor. Although the leather and textile components now require careful preservation, the set retains the essential construction and appearance of 19th-century Prussian heavy cavalry equipment and would form an impressive centerpiece in a collection focused on the Franco-Prussian War or Imperial German cavalry.
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