A Prussian Infantry Officer of the Grenadiers Regiment Pickelhaube

This pickelhaube is produced from polished black leather, re-finished, with mild crazing throughout. The leather is very smooth to the touch, the exterior stitching remaining intact. It has solid polished metal fittings, which includes the spike (with two ventilation holes and an ornate design at the base). It has solid brass fittings, which includes the spike (with two ventilation holes and an ornate design at the base), spike mounting base (with two eight-pointed star pins, the other two stars having separated from the pickelhaube but accompanying it), rear spine, front visor trim and chin strap (multi-scaled with sliding lock). There is a three-colour cockade of Imperial Germany on the right side and a black cockade representing Prussia on the left side, with original capped pins connecting to the brass chin strap, which is supported by an intact underlying leather chin strap, with central buckle for adjustment. The helmet plate is brass with the Prussian eagle insignia, the eagle bearing a shield on its chest with the cypher of King Frederick William III, with a ribbon banner inscribed "MITT GOTT FUR KOENIG UND VATERLAND" (With God for King and Country). The underside of the visor is lined in green, while the underside of the neck guard is lined in red. The inside is lined in brown leather, with a retractable two-piece synthetic liner with wire supports in the dome. The butterscotch-coloured leather sweatband is perforated along the front edge with five tiny rows of forty ventilation holes each, the ends of the sweatband glued together at the rear. Alterations have been made to the pickelhaube, as evidenced by the replacement washers, nuts and bolts holding the spike mounting base in place and the previously established holes visible on the interior. It measures 165 mm x 240 mm x 245 mm in height, exhibiting undulation on the brass visor trim, contact marks on and wear along the edge of the neck guard, light soiling on the leather sweatband, fraying on the synthetic liner in the dome, with intact stitching, fine craftsmanship. Footnote: The brass helmet plate used on this pickelhaube was the insignia of Grenadier Regiments 2 and 7 prior to 1897. (C:46)