Sale
Item: ONSV25TGA037
Original German WWI Bavarian M1896 State Official’s Leather Pickelhaube Helmet with Chinscales & Lion’s Head Posts - Size 55
In stock
-
Original Item: Only One Available. This a great example of a Bavarian Model 1896 State Official’s Private Purchase Pickelhaube Helmet, with a boiled leather shell. State Official’s Pickelhaubes are among the rarest to be found, and this one is in extraordinary condition. The shell is virtually free of cracking or crazing, and the wappen retains its lovely gilt finish.The helmet's boiled leather shell and visors are in very fine condition without any major dents, or imperfections. The rear visor has come off of most of its stitching and is now only held in place by the spine. The metal fittings (cruciform spike base, chin scales, wappen, spike) are all brass exhibiting minor wear without any major issues and a wonderful patina. The helmet features a large spike with a bit of bending and material loss near the tip. The spike is secured onto the helmet with a cruciform spike base. While most other areas in the German Empire moved to a round spike base, Bavaria kept them for most types of regiments. The spike is not fluted, as it was on earlier versions of the helmet.The Bayern Pickelhaube M1896 Wappen (front plate) features two crowned lions supporting the Baverian state emblem. This version of the wappen is much smaller than the previous M1886, which was almost twice the size, and had laurel leaves entwined with the legs of the lions. This example is excellent and has correct Bavarian coat of arms, over the kingdom's motto, In Treue Fest, German for "steadfast in loyalty." The gilding on the brass alloy is completely intact, with just a bit of fading.The lion’s head chinstrap posts and cockade above the lion’s head on the left side is what distinguishes this as a State Official’s helm. The chin strap itself is a high end brass scale version with leather bcking. It has clips on the end which attach to the securing rings. The cockade is a Reichs-Kokarde (German National Colors cockade), with the Black, Red, and White paint intact. This was definitely a high end private purchase item.The interior is in good order, but the lining is torn from where it connects. The sweatband is in very good condition, and is stamped with Size 55. All the metal hardware securing metal fittings are present and period.Overall an excellent example of a WWI Bavarian State Official’s Pickelhaube in great condition, ready to display!
- This product is available for international shipping.
- Eligible for all payments - Visa, Mastercard, Discover, AMEX, Paypal & Sezzle
We Buy Military Antiques
Our team expert buyers travels the world to pay fair prices for entire estate collections to singular items.
START SELLING TODAY
