Original Item. Only One Available. This is a very nice and complete Imperial German Baden Infantry officer’s Pickelhaube, retaining its original brass fittings, Baden front plate, officer’s cockades, chinscales, spike assembly, and lining. It is one of the nicest and most complete Baden officer helmets we have received recently, although the leather body and lining exhibit several condition issues from age and storage.

The entire helmet has been treated with an oil and is now somewhat slippery as a result. Care should be taken when handling the helmet.

The M1895 represented the final major pre-1914 development of the Imperial German leather spiked helmet. This officer’s example has gold colored brass fittings and a polished Baden Wappen, together with its original officer’s liner and chinscales. The pointed spike is consistent with infantry use, while the officer pattern fittings, cockades, and scaled chinstraps distinguish it from a standard enlisted helmet.

The front of the helmet is fitted with a polished brass Baden plate depicting the crowned heraldic griffin clutching a sword and resting upon the Baden state shield. Beneath the central device is the motto of the Grand Duchy:

MIT GOTT F. FUERST U. VATERLAND

With God for Prince, or Grand Duke, and Fatherland

The helmet retains both of its officer’s cockades. These consist of the red, white, and black national cockade and the red and gold state cockade of Baden. The original officer’s chinscales are also present, with the leather strap underneath complete with a working buckle. Some of the strap is detached from the scales but looks fine for display.

The interior features a fine quality tan leather sweatband and artificial silk lining. The lining is tearing, as shown. Much of the stitching securing the rear visor is missing, although the visor remains in place due to the support provided by the brass rear spine.

The leather helmet body exhibits heavy crazing, together with several dents across the shell. Part of the rear has become misshapen. Despite these condition issues, the helmet retains its principal fittings and presents as a complete Baden officer’s example.

The Pickelhaube was introduced into Prussian military service in 1842 and was gradually adopted by the armies of the other German states. Baden adopted the spiked helmet during the 19th century and distinguished its troops through the use of the Baden griffin front plate and red and gold state cockade.

Following the establishment of the German Empire in 1871, the individual state armies retained many of their traditional uniform distinctions while serving within the wider Imperial German Army. A Baden officer’s helmet therefore combined the national cockade of the German Empire with the separate Baden state cockade and front plate.

Officer Pickelhaubes were generally privately purchased and commonly incorporated finer fittings and interiors than regulation enlisted helmets. Features such as metal chinscales, officer pattern cockades, leather sweatbands, and silk or artificial silk linings reflected the more elaborate construction expected of privately acquired officer headgear.

The Pickelhaube remained closely associated with the Imperial German Army during the opening years of WWI. Its leather construction offered limited protection against artillery fragments and modern battlefield hazards, and it was gradually replaced in frontline service by the steel Stahlhelm beginning in 1916.

The retention of the Baden Wappen, both officer’s cockades, and original chinscales makes this a notably complete example of Imperial Baden officer headgear. The oiled surface, shell crazing, dents, misshapen rear section, torn lining, and missing rear visor stitching are important condition factors, but the survival of the principal fittings preserves the helmet’s value as a representative Baden officer’s Pickelhaube. It would be appropriate for a collection focused on the Grand Duchy of Baden, Imperial German infantry, officer headgear, or WWI uniforms and equipment.