Description
PICKELHAUBE – PRUSSIA – OFFICER – 1. GARDE-REGIMENT ZU FUß P – SEMPER TALIS BANDEAU.
This is a simply marvelous officer’s spiked helmet. The regiment was the most elite among Prussia’s and Germany’s Infanterie Regiments. It was garrisoned in Potsdam with its Kavallerie Regiment counterpart, the Regiment der Gardes du Corps. The 1. Garde Regiment zu Fuß was loaded with denizens from Imperial Germany’s highest royal and noble families. Every Hohenzollern Prinz was invested in it, including all of Kaiser Wilhelm II’s sons, just as the Kaiser himself had been as a young man. The Kaiser also served as its Regimental Chef (royal patron). The latter was a ceremonial post, since every regiment that possessed a royal patron actually was run on a daily basis by its true commander, typically an Oberst or Oberstleutnant. [Please remember that the 1. Garde Regiment zu Fuß also was notable as one of only two Prussian Infanterie Regiments to retain the Mitre as its headdress for high dress occasions. The Mitre had been the Infanterie’s preferred headdress prior to the pickelhaube’s introduction in 1842. After that date, all the other regiments switched to a combination of pickelhauben, schirmmützen and mützen for their headgear].
This magnificent helmet’s body is quite pleasing. Its leather is generally supple, with no major flaws to its surface. It is clean and in excellent condition for being more than one-hundred-years-old. Its silver body furniture is correct for the 1. Garde Regiment zu Fuß, including the wappen, chin scales, the base with pearl ring, helmet trim and spike. The fluted spike differs greatly from most pickelhauben’s spikes, lending it a very elegant look. The correct State and Reich’s kokarden are also present.
The wappen, however, is the true star here and deserves special attention. First, we can easily tell that the helmet is correct for the 1. Garde Regiment zu Fuß. [PLEASE NOTE: all the Regiment’s Bataillon Nr 1 and Regimental Staff Officers sported the “Semper Talis” bandeaux above the eagle on their wappens, as does this helmet]. The wappen boasts a fine, heavy patina. Such a patina adds an extra level of beauty to an item. Its massive eagle displays wings that extend PAST its kokarden. When you first look at the helmet, it seems as though these wings go on forever. The center of the eagle’s chest displays the Garde Star that decorates all Garde Regiment headdresses. The Garde Star exhibits a rich layering of red, white, black, and gold enamel. Its center displays a multicolored Black Eagle.
The Order of the Black Eagle is the House of Hohenzollern’s highest order. Certain levels of this Order were invested to all its House’s young princes. [Also, at the discretion of the King or (later) Kaiser, others NOT born to the House of Hohenzollern could be awarded this special honor. It was more of a royal honor than a direct military award]. As not only Prussia’s, but Imperial Germany’s most elite Infanterie Regiment, the 1. Garde Regiment zu Fuß was packed from top to bottom with royals and nobles from all over Germany. Aside from those on active duty, more than twenty-eight royals were assigned to it as à la Suite officers. Every House of Hohenzollern male was invested in it as a Leutnant at a young age. As they all grew older, they were promoted to higher ranks (depending on their individual situations). For example, in addition to being a Kaiserliche Marine Großadmiral Kaiser Wilhelm II’s younger brother, Prinz Heinrich, was a Generaloberst in the Rank of Generalfeldmarschall in the 1. Garde Regiment zu Fuß.
The helmet’s interior features a nearly-mint, dark-brown, leather sweatband. The smooth (NOT ribbed) silk liner attached to the leather sweatband is also dark-brown. [I see far fewer of these liners, which I personally find more elegant]. It is in mint condition. ALL of the hardware is 100% original to the helmet underneath that silk liner, extending to where the base, pearl ring, and spike are connected at the interior’s top. The same applies to the wappen’s securing hardware, which is original. Of course, NO double holes are present where it is secured.
This simply superb helmet in TOP condition is a consignment item. It also is value-priced. You will be hard pressed to find a better value on this particular type of helmet.
