Description
The 1. Garde-Regiment zu Fuß, also known as the First Foot Guard Regiment, was the most esteemed infantry regiment in both the Prussian and German army. This regiment, along with the Regiment des Garde du Corps, were the pride of Kaiser Wilhelm II. We present a first-rate officer pickelhaube for the 1. Garde-Regiment zu Fuß, which is a highly sought-after item. This particular helmet also features the Semper Talis bandeau, which adds to its prestige.
Founded in 1688, the 1. Garde-Regiment zu Fuß was stationed in Potsdam, along with the most prestigious Garde-Regiments, including the Regiment des Garde du Corps. While the GdC was more showy, being a cavalry regiment and sporting shiny gold-toned helmets with the massive Prussian Eagle mounted atop, the 1. Garde-Regiment zu Fuß was even more elite. All Hohenzollern princes were admitted into the regiment at a young age. In addition to Kaiser Wilhelm, who served as the Regimental Chef, the senior prince was Prinz Heinrich, the younger brother of Kaiser Wilhelm II, who held the rank of Generaloberst in the Rank of Generalfeldmarschall. In total, there were more than twenty-five royals and nobles in the regiment, far exceeding the number in the GdC.
This pickelhaube features a leather body or skull that is in excellent condition, with only minor spidering and a small loss of leather much smaller than a dime. The furniture is all silver, and the wappen, in particular, is beautifully frosted. This wappen extends all the way back to the kokarden and is among the most handsome of all wappens. Directly above the Eagle, there is an equally frosted “Semper Talis” bandeau, which was only carried by one battalion in the regiment, along with regimental staff officers.
One unique feature of this helmet is the fluted spike, which is typically only used on a General’s helmet in Prussia. The sunburst on the silver-toned wappen is also noteworthy, with the multi-colored enamel Garde star and the Latin motto “Suum Cuique” in excellent condition. The correct officer State and Reich kokarden complete the exterior of this helmet.
The interior of the helmet features a brown leather sweatband showing moderate wear and a cream-colored silk liner showing extensive use, partially detached from the sweatband. The metal button indicates a size of 55 ½, and the original hardware is all present without any double holes. This pickelhaube is an untouched, 100% original spike helmet that has been in the possession of a German collector for over forty years. It is a magnificent piece of history and a rare find for any collector.
For more information on the 1. Garde-Regiment zu Fuß and the Regiment des Garde du Corps, please visit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1st_Foot_Guard_Regiment_(German_Empire) and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garde_du_Corps_(Prussia).
