CATERPILLAR HELMET OF INFANTRY AND HORSE HUNTERS, model 1791, Revolution (1791-1796).
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INFANTRY AND CHASSEURS À CHEVAL CHENILLE HELMET, model 1791, Revolution (1791-1796).
Black waxed and varnished felt helmet on the external face, with a depth of approximately 19 cm.
At its base, a 0.9 cm bourdalou is formed by the return of the leather of the inner cap.
Headband painted to imitate a panther skin, made of a strong canvas folded in half and fastened by a lace, sewn at the base of the helmet. Height 8 cm.
Round black leather visor, 5.5 cm wide.
Inner cap consists of a 5 cm high leather headband topped with a canvas headband of approximately 9 cm high.
France.
Revolution around 1791-1795.
Medium condition, missing the chenille, some small accidents, left in the state it was found in 2011 in the church of a German family's castle.
PROVENANCE:
This helmet comes from a batch of identical helmets (all without chenille) found in 2011 in Wurtzbourg, Bavaria, by carpenters working on the renovation of a private chapel in a castle. They most likely come from the Battle of Wurtzbourg on September 3, 1796, where the French army lost 2,000 killed or wounded and 1,000 prisoners.
NOTE:
This model was adopted by the provisional instruction on the clothing and equipment of the troops of April 1, 1791 (Imprimerie royale, 1792, 17 pages), for the French infantry. The exercise regulations for the infantry of August 1, 1791, confirm the existence of this model reproduced in its plates showing infantrymen wearing the new chenille helmet. Plates 3, 4, and 5 depict the soldiers in various exercise positions with this headgear.
This helmet was gradually replaced starting from 1792-1793, but the specimens in service were used for a longer period due to cost-saving measures.
There are some variations in manufacturing, but very few authentic specimens have come down to us.
This specimen can be compared to the Douais Museum specimen which is similar in every detail. Another authentic specimen (complete) is exhibited at the l'Empéri Museum in Salon de Provence, formerly part of the Raoul and Jean Brunon collection.
Some of these helmets were manufactured by the Delpont house, others bear the marking "MERLE" hot stamped on the visor.
DELPONT:
In the Year V of the Republic (1796-1797), the National Archives already mention "Delpont, military headgear contractor". An act is dated 27 ventôse year VII (March 17, 1799), concerning his activity.
By the end of the Directory, he was significant enough to be listed among the Parisian military suppliers. A historical study designates him as "François Delpont, hat manufacturer and supplier" showing that he enjoyed financial support from banker Nicolas Seillière.
At the beginning of the 19th century, his house was still active. Antoine de Jomini, after leaving Swiss service, worked in Paris at François Delpont's, in his specialized headgear manufacturing facility, 52 rue de Grenelle, before leaving in 1803.
Finally, the F. Delpont and Le Thuillier house, at 52 rue de Grenelle, Faubourg Saint-Germain, still produced military headgear and equipment during the Restoration, including the 1816 model shako-helmet. One specimen is even directly marked "Delpont a Paris", as well as leather helmets for the National Guard on horseback.
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND, THE BATTLE OF WURTZBOURG:
The Battle of Wurtzbourg took place on September 3, 1796, in Wurtzbourg, in the Prince-Bishopric of Wurtzbourg, during the War of the First Coalition. It pitted the French Army of Sambre-et-Meuse commanded by General Jean-Baptiste Jourdan against the Austrian Imperial Army led by Archduke Charles. The French launched attacks against the archduke's forces, but he withstood them throughout the day until reinforcements arrived, tipping the scale definitively in favor of the Austrians.
During the summer of 1796, two French armies led by Generals Jourdan and Moreau, entered Southern Germany. Facing them, Archduke Charles of Austria attempted to slow their advance with two Austrian armies under the command of Generals Wilhelm von Wartensleben and Maximilien Antoine de Baillet de Latour. In the Battle of Amberg on August 24, Charles managed to overwhelm Jourdan's troops and forced them to retreat. Despite this, Jourdan made a futile attempt to counterattack at Wurtzbourg in hopes of halting his retreat. After the defeat, the French general was compelled to fall back to the Rhine, causing Moreau's army to abandon Southern Germany as well.
French Army casualties: 2,000 killed or wounded, 1,000 prisoners, and 7 cannons. Austrian losses were half as much: 1,200 men incapacitated and 300 prisoners. Jourdan's defeat at Wurtzbourg ultimately led to the failure of the 1796 campaign in Southern Germany. Archduke Charles pursued the defeated French and cut off Jourdan's army from receiving support from General Moreau's troops also operating in Germany.
On September 7, the archduke forced the French to lift the siege of Mainz. Around the 16th, the belligerents met on the banks of the Lahn River, where the 11,000 men of Austrian General Kray defeated the 15,000 French under Jourdan in Limburg an der Lahn. Following this loss, Jourdan fell back to Düsseldorf before recrossing the Rhine.
French Order of Battle
Army of Sambre-et-Meuse: Divisional General Jean-Baptiste Jourdan, Commander-in-chief — 25,000 infantry, 5,000 cavalry, 11 artillery batteries
• 1st Division: Divisional General François Joseph Lefebvre
• 2nd Division: Divisional General Paul Grenier
• 3rd Division: Divisional General Jean-Étienne Championnet
• 4th Division: Divisional General Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte
• Cavalry Reserve: Divisional General Jacques Philippe Bonnaud
Austrian Order of Battle
Army of the Lower Rhine: Field Marshal Archduke Charles Louis of Austria-Teschen, Commander-in-chief — 30,000 men
• 1st Division: Lieutenant Field Marshal Friedrich von Hotze
◦ Mixed Brigade: Major General Michael Kienmayer
◦ Infantry Brigade: Major General Johann von Hiller
◦ Cavalry Brigade: Colonel Anton Canisius
• 2nd Division: Lieutenant Field Marshal Anton Sztáray
◦ Mixed Brigade: Major General Jean de Liechtenstein
◦ Infantry Brigade: Major General Eugen Montfrault
◦ Bavarian Infantry Brigade: Major General Bartels
◦ Grenadier Brigade: Major General Konrad Valentin von Kaim
• 3rd Division: Lieutenant Field Marshal Johann von Riesch
◦ Cavalry Brigade: Major General Prince Alexander of Württemberg
◦ Cavalry Brigade: Major General Joseph Spiegelberg
• 4th Division: Lieutenant Field Marshal Pál Kray
◦ Cavalry Brigade: Major General Frederick Louis of Hohenlohe-Ingelfingen
◦ Cavalry Brigade: Major General Karl Joseph Hadik von Futak
◦ Infantry Brigade: Major General Franz Sebottendorf
◦ Infantry Brigade: Major General Prince Frederick of Orange
◦ Infantry Brigade: Major General Joseph Staader
• Reserve: Field Marshal Wilhelm von Wartensleben
◦ Grenadier Brigade: Major General Johann Kollowrat
◦ Grenadier Brigade: Major General Joseph von Schellenberg
◦ Grenadier Brigade: Major General Ludwig von Vogelsang
◦ Cavalry Brigade: Major General Franz Seraph von Rosenberg-Orsini
◦ Cavalry Brigade: Lieutenant Field Marshal Charles Eugene of Lorraine de Lambesc
Black waxed and varnished felt helmet on the external face, with a depth of approximately 19 cm.
At its base, a 0.9 cm bourdalou is formed by the return of the leather of the inner cap.
Headband painted to imitate a panther skin, made of a strong canvas folded in half and fastened by a lace, sewn at the base of the helmet. Height 8 cm.
Round black leather visor, 5.5 cm wide.
Inner cap consists of a 5 cm high leather headband topped with a canvas headband of approximately 9 cm high.
France.
Revolution around 1791-1795.
Medium condition, missing the chenille, some small accidents, left in the state it was found in 2011 in the church of a German family's castle.
PROVENANCE:
This helmet comes from a batch of identical helmets (all without chenille) found in 2011 in Wurtzbourg, Bavaria, by carpenters working on the renovation of a private chapel in a castle. They most likely come from the Battle of Wurtzbourg on September 3, 1796, where the French army lost 2,000 killed or wounded and 1,000 prisoners.
NOTE:
This model was adopted by the provisional instruction on the clothing and equipment of the troops of April 1, 1791 (Imprimerie royale, 1792, 17 pages), for the French infantry. The exercise regulations for the infantry of August 1, 1791, confirm the existence of this model reproduced in its plates showing infantrymen wearing the new chenille helmet. Plates 3, 4, and 5 depict the soldiers in various exercise positions with this headgear.
This helmet was gradually replaced starting from 1792-1793, but the specimens in service were used for a longer period due to cost-saving measures.
There are some variations in manufacturing, but very few authentic specimens have come down to us.
This specimen can be compared to the Douais Museum specimen which is similar in every detail. Another authentic specimen (complete) is exhibited at the l'Empéri Museum in Salon de Provence, formerly part of the Raoul and Jean Brunon collection.
Some of these helmets were manufactured by the Delpont house, others bear the marking "MERLE" hot stamped on the visor.
DELPONT:
In the Year V of the Republic (1796-1797), the National Archives already mention "Delpont, military headgear contractor". An act is dated 27 ventôse year VII (March 17, 1799), concerning his activity.
By the end of the Directory, he was significant enough to be listed among the Parisian military suppliers. A historical study designates him as "François Delpont, hat manufacturer and supplier" showing that he enjoyed financial support from banker Nicolas Seillière.
At the beginning of the 19th century, his house was still active. Antoine de Jomini, after leaving Swiss service, worked in Paris at François Delpont's, in his specialized headgear manufacturing facility, 52 rue de Grenelle, before leaving in 1803.
Finally, the F. Delpont and Le Thuillier house, at 52 rue de Grenelle, Faubourg Saint-Germain, still produced military headgear and equipment during the Restoration, including the 1816 model shako-helmet. One specimen is even directly marked "Delpont a Paris", as well as leather helmets for the National Guard on horseback.
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND, THE BATTLE OF WURTZBOURG:
The Battle of Wurtzbourg took place on September 3, 1796, in Wurtzbourg, in the Prince-Bishopric of Wurtzbourg, during the War of the First Coalition. It pitted the French Army of Sambre-et-Meuse commanded by General Jean-Baptiste Jourdan against the Austrian Imperial Army led by Archduke Charles. The French launched attacks against the archduke's forces, but he withstood them throughout the day until reinforcements arrived, tipping the scale definitively in favor of the Austrians.
During the summer of 1796, two French armies led by Generals Jourdan and Moreau, entered Southern Germany. Facing them, Archduke Charles of Austria attempted to slow their advance with two Austrian armies under the command of Generals Wilhelm von Wartensleben and Maximilien Antoine de Baillet de Latour. In the Battle of Amberg on August 24, Charles managed to overwhelm Jourdan's troops and forced them to retreat. Despite this, Jourdan made a futile attempt to counterattack at Wurtzbourg in hopes of halting his retreat. After the defeat, the French general was compelled to fall back to the Rhine, causing Moreau's army to abandon Southern Germany as well.
French Army casualties: 2,000 killed or wounded, 1,000 prisoners, and 7 cannons. Austrian losses were half as much: 1,200 men incapacitated and 300 prisoners. Jourdan's defeat at Wurtzbourg ultimately led to the failure of the 1796 campaign in Southern Germany. Archduke Charles pursued the defeated French and cut off Jourdan's army from receiving support from General Moreau's troops also operating in Germany.
On September 7, the archduke forced the French to lift the siege of Mainz. Around the 16th, the belligerents met on the banks of the Lahn River, where the 11,000 men of Austrian General Kray defeated the 15,000 French under Jourdan in Limburg an der Lahn. Following this loss, Jourdan fell back to Düsseldorf before recrossing the Rhine.
French Order of Battle
Army of Sambre-et-Meuse: Divisional General Jean-Baptiste Jourdan, Commander-in-chief — 25,000 infantry, 5,000 cavalry, 11 artillery batteries
• 1st Division: Divisional General François Joseph Lefebvre
• 2nd Division: Divisional General Paul Grenier
• 3rd Division: Divisional General Jean-Étienne Championnet
• 4th Division: Divisional General Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte
• Cavalry Reserve: Divisional General Jacques Philippe Bonnaud
Austrian Order of Battle
Army of the Lower Rhine: Field Marshal Archduke Charles Louis of Austria-Teschen, Commander-in-chief — 30,000 men
• 1st Division: Lieutenant Field Marshal Friedrich von Hotze
◦ Mixed Brigade: Major General Michael Kienmayer
◦ Infantry Brigade: Major General Johann von Hiller
◦ Cavalry Brigade: Colonel Anton Canisius
• 2nd Division: Lieutenant Field Marshal Anton Sztáray
◦ Mixed Brigade: Major General Jean de Liechtenstein
◦ Infantry Brigade: Major General Eugen Montfrault
◦ Bavarian Infantry Brigade: Major General Bartels
◦ Grenadier Brigade: Major General Konrad Valentin von Kaim
• 3rd Division: Lieutenant Field Marshal Johann von Riesch
◦ Cavalry Brigade: Major General Prince Alexander of Württemberg
◦ Cavalry Brigade: Major General Joseph Spiegelberg
• 4th Division: Lieutenant Field Marshal Pál Kray
◦ Cavalry Brigade: Major General Frederick Louis of Hohenlohe-Ingelfingen
◦ Cavalry Brigade: Major General Karl Joseph Hadik von Futak
◦ Infantry Brigade: Major General Franz Sebottendorf
◦ Infantry Brigade: Major General Prince Frederick of Orange
◦ Infantry Brigade: Major General Joseph Staader
• Reserve: Field Marshal Wilhelm von Wartensleben
◦ Grenadier Brigade: Major General Johann Kollowrat
◦ Grenadier Brigade: Major General Joseph von Schellenberg
◦ Grenadier Brigade: Major General Ludwig von Vogelsang
◦ Cavalry Brigade: Major General Franz Seraph von Rosenberg-Orsini
◦ Cavalry Brigade: Lieutenant Field Marshal Charles Eugene of Lorraine de Lambesc
Reference :
1386-4
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Next update Friday, august 14 at 13:30 PM
FOR ALL PURCHASES, PAYMENT IN MULTIPLE CHECKS POSSIBLE
bertrand.malvaux@wanadoo.fr 06 07 75 74 63
An authenticity certificate of the item including the description published on the site, the period, the sale price, accompanied by one or more color photographs is automatically provided for any item priced over 130 euros. Below this price, each certificate is charged 5 euros.
Only items sold by me are subject to an authenticity certificate, I do not provide any expert reports for items sold by third parties (colleagues or collectors).