Original Item. Only One Available. This is a very nice original Colombian Army ceremonial spike helmet, or Pickelhaube, retaining its painted national coat of arms plate, removable upper spike, brass rear spine, leather chinstrap, Colombian national cockades, complete nine-tongue liner, and interior foam skull pad. The helmet follows the Prussian influenced pattern adopted by Colombia during its early 20th century military reforms.

The Pickelhaube became part of Colombian military dress during the reorganization of the Army in the early 1900s. German influenced uniforms, equipment, drill, and ceremonial traditions reached Colombia largely through Chilean military advisors, whose own army had previously adopted Prussian practices.

This style of spiked helmet remains associated with Colombian ceremonial military dress, particularly the Presidential Guard Battalion and military school cadets. The example does not bear a visible date, maker’s marking, or unit designation, so its precise period of manufacture cannot be confirmed.

The helmet body is constructed from rigid fiber material. The rough unfinished texture of the material remains visible on the underside of the shell. The front bears a painted brass plate depicting the coat of arms of Colombia. The colored finish remains well retained and clearly defines the principal elements of the national emblem. At the center is a divided shield containing the symbolic devices of the Colombian coat of arms. Above the shield is an Andean condor with its wings extended, representing freedom.

The condor holds an olive crown, while the national motto appears upon a gold scroll:

LIBERTAD Y ORDEN

The phrase translates as:

Liberty and Order

The condor faces toward its right. The paint on the plate remains in good overall condition with only expected age and handling wear.

A brass spike is mounted at the crown of the helmet on a circular base secured by four rivets.

The upper section of the spike unscrews, allowing a parade plume to be installed. No plume is included with this helmet.

A brass reinforcing spine extends from beneath the spike base down the rear of the shell to the rear visor. This follows the general configuration of the Imperial German Pickelhaube from which the Colombian ceremonial pattern was derived.

The helmet retains its leather chinstrap with brass fittings. Its construction closely follows the flat leather strap arrangement used on German enlisted Pickelhauben. Cockades are mounted at both chinstrap lugs. Each displays the Colombian national colors, Yellow, Blue, and Red. The cockades appear to be fixed in place and do not rotate. They should not be forced, as doing so could damage the cockades, side posts, or surrounding fiber shell.

The interior retains a leather liner stitched around the outer edge of the helmet. All nine liner tongues remain present and are in good overall condition. A large foam skull pad is fitted inside the crown. The pad may be an original component of this particular helmet pattern or a later comfort addition, but its precise date cannot be determined without comparative documentation.

The painted Colombian coat of arms, national-color cockades, leather chinstrap, removable plume spike, brass rear spine, complete nine-tongue liner, and fiber shell preserve the principal features of this ceremonial helmet. Although no markings establish its date or issuing unit, its construction is consistent with the Prussian influenced headgear used by Colombian military ceremonial formations and academies.