Original Item: Only One Available. This is a handsome original Imperial German Prussian Infantry officer's Pickelhaube in size 56, displaying the officer configuration commonly referred to by collectors as the Model 1897. Constructed from black lacquered leather with gilt metal fittings, officer-pattern cockades, chinscales, and the characteristic removable spike tip, this is a well-appointed privately purchased helmet of the type worn by Prussian commissioned officers before and during World War I.

Unlike enlisted Pickelhauben, which were government-issued and manufactured to standardized military specifications, officers were generally responsible for purchasing their own helmets and uniforms. As a result, considerable variation exists in the quality of surviving officer helmets. Rank alone did not determine construction quality, and an expensive helmet purchased by a junior officer could be considerably finer than one selected by an officer of higher rank.

Regardless of the unit, officer Pickelhaube share common features such as: the undersides of visors are lined, Officer Kokarden are carried, and the "egg & dart" Perlring was matched with star-pattern spike base brads, and chinscales were worn. The officer's Pickelhaube was basically unchanged from 1871 to 1899 when it had a more domed shape, and from 1899 to the end it had more of a skull shape. Otherwise, with the exception of the addition of the Reich's Kokarde in 1897, the officer's Haube was mostly the same from 1871 to 1918. As with most pickelhauben, they are made from boiled leather, which is then lacquered black.

The overall condition of this officer's pickelhaube is good. All of the helmet's furniture is highly-detailed gilt aluminumbronze alloy, and the gilding is still mostly present and bright. The Prussian wappen (coat of arms) features a large eagle with the King's motto, MIT GOTT FÜR KOENIG UND VATERLAND (With God for King and Country, i.e. Prussia). The chin scales are in very good condition, solid and functional with full leather behind them and large split pin attachment present, though the leather behind is a bit thin and loose.

Both kokarden (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. Both cockades are present on this helmet, and they are in good condition, with the paint retained. The alloy central bands have oxidized and faded from their original bright appearance.

The top spike is a classic example, with all four star shaped attachment split pins intact, and the correct round base. The "egg and dart" perlring around the bottom is in great shape, without any damage. The top of the spike can be unscrewed for the attachment of a parade plume, as was common with officer pickelhauben.

The helmet's interior retains two labels, reading:

AWES MARKE
AWS
56

UNGESPALTENES
LEDER

56 denotes the size. The bottom label translates as “unsplit leather,” referring to the quality or type of leather used in the helmet's construction rather than identifying a manufacturer or retailer. The survival of both original interior labels provides valuable evidence for the helmet's manufacture and materials.

The underside of the front visor is green, while the rear is red, a color combination that we see on most of the officer pickelhauben we handle. Unfortunately the front visor is missing all of its stitching so it is loose and the helmet sinks due to this loss, so they are held on more by the fittings. There is definitely age to the exterior black finish, which has small cracks and crazing, as well as areas of deterioration and deformation. There are two sizable dents in the leather over the national cockade.

The inside liner is still present, including the silk skull cap which is partially detached. The silk is heavily worn in a couple areas but is retained at about 90%. The leather sweat band is still supple and complete. Overall a wonderful interior, much more complete and in better condition that most we encounter. The primary condition issue is the loss of stitching in the front visor.

The Pickelhaube became one of the defining symbols of the Imperial German Army during the nineteenth century and remained regulation headgear at the outbreak of World War I. Its highly visible polished fittings and leather construction were increasingly unsuitable for modern combat, leading to the use of field-gray helmet covers and eventually the introduction of the steel Stahlhelm in 1916. Officer Pickelhauben nevertheless continued to be worn for dress and other purposes through the end of the Imperial period.

This helmet combines the characteristic features of a privately purchased Prussian Infantry officer's Pickelhaube with unusually useful surviving internal documentation. The Awes Marke / AWS / 56 label, UNGESPALTENES LEDER material marking, complete pair of officer cockades, gilt Prussian eagle, chinscales, four-star spike base, decorative Perlring, removable spike tip, and largely surviving silk-and-leather liner together identify a quality Imperial-era officer helmet. Although the missing front-visor stitching and localized deformation require careful handling, the helmet remains a strong and substantially complete example of the Prussian officer Pickelhaube configuration in use during the First World War.