Original Item. Only One Available. This is a very good Imperial German Prussian Garde Pickelhaube of private-purchase, or Eigentums-Helm, quality, most likely dating from the late Imperial to WWI period. The helmet retains its black lacquered leather body, Prussian Garde Wappen with Order of the Black Eagle star, brass chinscales, both cockades, removable spike, officer-quality leather and silk liner, and the distinctive green and red visor linings associated with privately purchased helmets. This is one of the nicest Prussian Garde helmets we have ever offered.

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.

The overall condition of this officer's pickelhaube is very good. All of the helmet's furniture is highly-detailed nickel plated alloy, though a lot of the plating has faded. The Prussian wappen (coat of arms) 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 motto SUUM CUIQUE (to each his own) is marked above an eagle, with laurel leaves below. This wappen has always been on the helmet, retained by the correct washers and square nuts, which match those attaching the spike base to the top.

The brass chin scales are in good condition, solid and functional with nearly full leather behind them and large split pin attachment present. The end of the leather strap is broken off and gone, but the buckle is still present, and the chinscales are still held together by the split pin. Both kokarden (cockades) are present, and are the correct higher-quality officer variety. 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 very good condition.

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. The top of the ball can be unscrewed for the attachment of a parade plume, as was common with officer pickelhauben.

The helmet's interior reveals no depot marks or maker marks, so it was bespoke. 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. There is definitely age to the exterior black finish, which has crazing, especially on the front visor with some on the rear visor as well. The front and rear visor are still firmly attached to the helmet, but the front visor is now missing most of its stitching, though it sits fine for display.

The inside liner is still present, along with the silk skull cap, but they are quite worn. The leather sweatband is still supple though there is some heavy staining and some rubbing at the bends. The silk skull cap has some fraying and minor tearing but is backed with linen, a great design choice that certainly saved it from complete loss.

The combination of the elaborate Prussian Garde Wappen, eight-pointed Order of the Black Eagle star, both cockades, complete chinscales, and surviving leather-and-silk interior makes this a particularly attractive private-purchase Prussian Garde helmet. The crazed lacquer, missing front-visor stitching, staining, and worn silk liner are all important condition factors, but the helmet retains the principal fittings and interior components that give it its distinctive appearance. It will fit well as a centerpiece of any Pickelhaube collection.