Original Pre-WWI Austro-Hungarian K.u.K. Uhlan Cavalry 4th Galician Uhlans (Emperor's) Regimental Officer's Czapka Helmet
 Regimental Officer's Czapka Helmet)
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Original Item: Only One Available. Always considered one of the most romantic styles of Cavalry Helmets, is this, the Czapka. The word itself is Polish / Belorussian, and basically means "cap". This style is perhaps best known to English speakers as a word for the 19th-century Polish cavalry headgear, consisting of a high, four-pointed cap with regimental insignia on the front (full name in Polish: czapka rogatywka, initially: konfederatka) to which feathers or rosettes were sometimes added.
The helmet style was then adopted by various other European cavalry units, including the Uhlan Cavalry units of the Austro-Hungarian empire. The term Uhlan itself was originally used for Polish-Lithuanian light cavalry units, so they borrowed the term along with the cap, and in this case, the people as well. By tradition the majority of Uhlans were recruited from the Kingdom of Galicia and Lodomeria. The regiments were also stationed there, with few exceptions. This was a partition of Poland, administered by the Austro-Hungarian Empire. This helmet has a number 4 on the Austro-Hungarian Eagle front plate (wappen), which indicates issue to the 4th Galician Uhlans (Emperor's) (Galizisches Ulanen-Regiment „Kaiser“ Nr. 4). It participated in the Revolutions of 1848, Risorgimento, Austro-Prussian War, and World War I. The majority of its recruits were Ruthenian and Polish.
The extra ornamentation on the visor leads us to believe that this is for an officer, and not a standard enlisted model helmet. Construction is a leather body, but unfortunately the brass chinscales are now entirely gone, as are their mounts. There is no plume, but there is a spot in the mortarboard for one. The red felt-backed chains are in rough condition, with the felt having disconnected from most of the chains. The two lion’s head mounts are still present on the “stalk”.
The interior shows a still-intact leather sweatband embossed with UCI in a circle, likely a costumer’s mark, and 6, likely the size. The red silk lining is in surprisingly good shape.
A heavily worn but genuine Czapka Helmet. Ready to display.
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