Hesse-Nassau Field Artillery Officers Helmet Model 1848

The Duchy of Hessen Nassau was formed in 1806 when the counties of Nassau-Usingen and Nassau-Weilburg merged under the joint rule of Prince Frederick Augustus and Prince Frederick William. The Duchy of Nassau was an independent state until 1866 when it was annexed to Prussia after losing the Austro-Prussian War.

Hessen Nassau Field Artillery Officer helmet Model 1848 (until 1866). Very rare older pattern helmet. Nassau fielded 2 artillery regiments in 1848. This helmet style was heavily influenced by the Prussian Model 1843.Black lacquered leather helmet with gilt brass trim. Leather helmet in near perfect condition with firm stitching and bright lacquer finish. Round front visor trim. Unusual, crossed spike base mounted by a ball. Base is retained by 5 point star retainers.

The interior headliner is the officer (Prussian style) leather type. Interior visors are lined with fine colored paper like the Prussian pattern, red in the back and green in the front. The frontplate is an 8-pointed star with the Coat of Arms of Hessen Nassau in the center. Rounded chinscales on rosettes with Prussian style side screws.

Hesse Nassau sided with Austria in the War of 1866 against Prussia. This helmet was used by the Hessen Nassau field artillery in the conflict. After the war Nassau was absorbed into Prussia. The field artillery units of Nassau became Prussian units. This helmet is an extremely Rare Officer model that was only used for 18 years.

The last picture shows a Photo from EUROPAISCHE HELME , Heinrich Muller, Militar Verlag Der Deutsche Demokratische Republic, page 242.