CASQUE DE CUIRASSIER DE LA GARDE PRUSSIENNE MODÈLE 1867 DE TROUPE. MODEL 1867 TROOPER’S CUIRASSIER HELMET OF THE PRUSSIAN GUARD.

Casque de Cuirassier de la Garde prussienne modele 1889 de troupe. Prussian Guard Cuirassier Trooper’s Helmet, Model 1889. Casque realise en tombac avec toute ses garnitures en maillechort. La bombe n a pas ete repercee et est munie de ses quatre trous sommitaux pour la fixation de la pointe de petite tenue et du grand trou central destine à la fixation de l aigle de parade. Celui-ci possede encore son argenture. Il est du modele 1867 de troupe avec nervure centrale mais avec la modification de 1870 qui supprime les quatre rivets de fixation de l embase au profit d une tige centrale. Les quatre trous de l ancienne fixation sont reglementairement bouches par des tetes rondes de vis soudees à l embase. Il est interessant de preciser que le dessous de l embase de l aigle de parade est frappe d un marquage GKR 5 E puis du chiffre 6 au-dessus. On retrouve ce meme marquage frappe sur l arriere de la bombe, à la base de la nuquiere GKR ainsi que du numero d escadron 5 E. Il est suffisamment rare de trouver un casque et son cimier frappes d un meme marquage attestant de l homogeneite de l ensemble pour que nous en fassions etat ici. On note un leger enfoncement de la bombe sur l arriere gauche, petit accident frequemment rencontre sur ce type de coiffure, mais qui peut aisement s effacer si l acquereur decide de proceder à cette modique restauration. La plaque est fixee sur le devant de la bombe au moyen de trois pontets soudes au dos de la plaque et maintenue par des pieces de cuir, ce qui atteste de l emploi d une plaque plus ancienne, procede tres frequent dans l armee allemande. La jugulaire à ecailles bombees est conforme au modele et sans manque. La cocarde prussienne est reglementairement portee à la fixation droite de la jugulaire (la cocarde d empire -reichskokarde- ne sera portee qu à dater du 22 mars 1897 sur le modele suivant). La coiffe interieure en cuir est bien presente. Belle et rare coiffure de la Garde portee lors de l accession au trône du kaiser Guillaume II. Prussian Guard Cuirassier Trooper’s Helmet, Model 1889. Constructed of tombac with all fittings in maillechort (nickel silver). The shell has not been pierced and is fitted with all fittings mounted on a central spine. The front plate was originally silvered and traces of the original silver finish remain visible. The cupped spike base still retains traces of gilding. This is the Model 1867 trooper’s helmet with central-rib shell, modified according to the 1870 pattern, which eliminated the four rivets securing the front plate and replaced them with four plugged holes from the earlier mounting system. The four openings of the original attachment system have been correctly closed by round-headed screws soldered to the shell. Of particular interest is the shell marking beneath the front plate. It bears the stamp GKR 5 followed by a number 6 above it. The same marking is repeated on the interior of the shell, beneath the liner. The GKR marking is also found under the front plate and on the liner itself and appears to have been applied by the same hand, indicating that the helmet has remained homogeneous and untouched, as expected for such a piece. A slight dent is present on the shell in the area of the eagle, probably resulting from an old impact. The front plate displays a minor repair: the retaining lug located behind the eagle’s neck, which can easily wear away, was restored by a previous owner. The plate is now secured to the shell by three soldered brass lugs and reinforced by leather spacers, indicating the use of an original plate rather than a modern reproduction. The chin scales are also original, although one scale is mounted with a replacement fastening ring and dates from a later period. The state cockade is probably a post-war replacement, as the fixation system of the Reichskokardewould not have appeared before 22 March 1897 on this helmet model. The original leather liner remains present. A fine and rare Guard Cuirassier helmet worn during the accession of Kaiser Wilhelm II to the throne.