Hessen Field Artillery Officer Pickelhaube

Hessen Field Artillery Officer helmet Model 1897.   Black lacquered leather helmet with gilded brass trim.  The helmet body is in  excellent condition with firm stitching. The interior of the helmet has officer style sweat leather with brown silk headliner.  The silk appears to have been replaced.  The interior visors are red and green as proper for officer. There are 2 extra holes behind the front but the Hessen plate that is on the  helmet properly fits the original holes used to retain the frontplate (see photos).

The gilded brass trim has been left untouched/uncleaned. The frontplate is the Hessen Lion. Hessen style cross base retained by 4 domed screws. The helmet came to us with a silver spike that has been cleaned and does not match the rest of the helmet uncleaned patina. An officer style Pearl and Diamond ring at base of spike is proper for Hessen Artillery Regiments.  The ball top unscrews at base.  Rounded chinscales on rosettes over a standard  Reichs cockade and a non-serrated Hessen officer cockades.  Excellent helmet with distinctive  Hessen  characteristics. Bargain priced.

(Ref. FM)