Original Item: Only One Available. This is an excellent Imperial German Prussian Garde Grenadier officer’s Pickelhaube of high-quality private-purchase, or Eigentums-Helm, construction, most likely dating from the late Imperial to WWI period. The helmet retains its black lacquered leather body, gilt brass fittings, Prussian Garde Wappen with Order of the Black Eagle star, officer chin scales, both cockades, removable spike, white parade plume, leather and silk liner, and the distinctive green and red visor linings commonly associated with privately purchased helmets. The quality of the fittings and interior construction clearly separates this example from a standard government-issued enlisted helmet.

The helmet was clearly manufactured to a much higher standard than a typical government-issued Mannschaften example. Privately purchased helmets could be worn by several categories of soldiers, including enlisted men, one-year volunteers, senior NCOs, officer candidates, and commissioned officers, depending upon their precise fittings and cockades. This example was especially intended for wear by a Grenadier Officer of the Prussian Garde.

The overall condition of this officer's pickelhaube is excellent. The helmets top fittings, spike, read support, and entire chin strap are gilt brass, with lots of original gold retained. The Prussian wappen (coat of arms) is also of gilt brass, with most of the gilding retained, and features a large eagle holding a scepter and an orb, with a banner bearing the King's motto, MIT GOTT FÜR KOENIG UND VATERLAND (With God for King and Country, i.e. Prussia). As this is a Garde helmet, there is a large 8 pointed star in the middle, which is the emblem of the Hoher Orden vom Schwarzen Adler (Order of the Black Eagle). The gilt motto SUUM CUIQUE (to each his own) is marked above center, with laurel leaves below, the underlying material appearing to be white enamel or porcelain. The central eagle badge looks outstanding. The pieces are a bit loose and will rotate if moved. This is the most intact example of this wappen we have offered.

The chin scales on this helmet are in great condition, solid and functional with full leather behind them and solid large split pin attachment present. As stated before, they have great color and gilding. One side of the leather backing is missing the end piece.

Both officer-style kokarde (cockades) are present, and are of high-end two piece construction, with detailed casting. In 1897 a new Reichs-Kokarde in Red-White-Black was introduced for all ranks to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the birth of Kaiser Wilhelm 1st. The Reichs-Kokarde was to be worn on the right side of the helmet, and the state Kokarde was moved to the left.

The top spike is very nice, with a small dent at the tip, and is able to be removed for attachment of the white horse hair plume. It has all four of the gilt brass star retaining screws. The horsehair is in great shape but due to its age some strands do come off if it is handled improperly. The helmet's interior reveals no depot marks on the back visor, with no interior crown markings either. The interior crown is a bit degraded and it appears there are some old glue repairs to the interior. It is approximately a size 7 1/8 US. There is definitely some age to the exterior finish, however it is just the usual crazing, with no major chips or other issues.

The inside liner is still present, with the leather now a bit darkened. It still has the silk skull cap, which is so often removed, but it has some tearing as shown with the interior stiffener pieces now loose. A very well-worn interior, to be expected for a helmet of such a storied regiment.

The combination of its high-quality private-purchase construction, complete officer cockades, gilt brass chin scales and fittings, interchangeable spike and parade plume, surviving silk liner, and especially well-preserved Prussian Garde Wappen with Order of the Black Eagle star makes this an especially strong example of an Imperial German Garde officer’s Pickelhaube. The surviving parade and field fittings allow the helmet to be displayed in either configuration, while the interior wear and intact original components preserve the character expected from an officer’s helmet that saw genuine service during the late Imperial and WWI period.