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G000559 WÜRTTEMBERG PIONEER RESERVE OFFICER'S PICKELHAUBE. (Pickelhaube)
BACKGROUND: Development of the pickelhaube may be traced back to the Prussian King Friedrich Wilhelm IV who initiated the original design and introduced it for wear by most of the Prussian line Infantry regiments on October 23RD 1842. The pickelhaube underwent numerous modifications starting in 1860 and continuing right up until 1915. Württemberg was one of the last three German states to adopt the pickelhaube after the formation of the Second Reich in 1871. The Württemberg EM/NCO's pickelhaube conformed to the Prussian style pickelhaube in all respects with the exception of the Württemberg state helmet plate.
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Nice quality blackened lacquered leather construction pickelhaube with silvered metal fittings. The pickelhaube features a rounded body and crown with stitched on, extended, squared corner, front and rounded rear visors. The forward edge of the front visor is trimmed in silvered metal which is secured in position by two dome headed studs. Helmet plate features a crowned rampant lion with oak-leaf cluster at its feet and a stag with a laurel leaf cluster at its feet, flanking the Württemberg State coat-of-arms with Imperial crown to top and embossed scripted banner to bottom. Banner is scripted, "Furchtlos und Trew", (Fearless and True). Attached to the center of the wappen is a very nice reserve cross. Helmet plate is attached by two screw posts which extend into interior through corresponding holes to pickelhaube front and are secured in place by two small nuts. The top crown of the pickelhaube has the distinctive Württemberg clover-leaf spike bass and 4.5" tall officers spike, all in german silver. All four of the original officers stars are intact including retaining screws with their original square nuts. The spike has two circular ventilation holes to the "neck" portion and an embossed, repeating, circular "pearl", patterned ornamentation at the base. The reverse center of the pickelhaube has a vertical, gilted brass, reinforcement spine with-out the sliding ventilation shutter. The spine is secured to the pickelhaube by an internal spilt pin rivet with a domed head. The pickelhaube has a multi-piece, flat, tapered, gilted brass chinscales with a black leather backstrap to the reverse which is secured in place by dual split pin rivets with silver rosette facings. The silver rosettes would indicate this individual served with Württembergisches Pionier-Batl. Nr.13 (Ulm) XIII Armee Korps, as it was the only unit to use this combination. The chinscales are secured at the front center of the helmet with a small horizontal slit to the right side and an extended swivel tab to the left side. The leather backstrap has a small brass buckle enabling it to be functional as a chin strap. The right hand side split pin rivet secures a three piece, painted, stamped magnetic sheet metal National tri-color cockade while the left hand side has a one piece, painted, stamped magnetic sheet metal Württemberg state cockade. The interior of the pickelhaube is in natural tan leather with a ribbed, golden/tan silk lining with a central slash with two tunnel looped wooden dowel retainers. Lining material is starting to fray, but is still all complete. The interior of the pickelhaube also has a wide tan leather sweatband with ornate scalloped edging. Size marked 57 ½. Superb helmet, nice condition.
GRADE **** PRICE $4,522.00
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