CASQUE ET CUIRASSE D'OFFICIER DU 1er RÉGIMENT DE CUIRASSIERS (1810-1814), PREMIER EMPIRE.
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OFFICER'S HELMET AND CUIRASS FROM THE 1st REGIMENT OF CUIRASSIERS (1810-1814), FIRST EMPIRE.
HELMET:
The steel skullcap is approximately 10 cm deep, tilted backwards in the "Minerva" style, with a 3-4 mm wide gutter at the bottom to prevent water infiltration under the turban.
The turban consists of a leather band approximately 9 cm high at the front, 8 cm on the sides at the level of the rosettes, and 10 cm at the back. It is covered with genuine sealskin with some damage and missing parts. At the back, there is a strap with a square steel buckle with two prongs and a counter-strap for tightening the cap. The leather visor is covered with skin, encircled with a gilt brass rim, and measures 7.5 cm long; it is lined inside with green waxed calfskin; it is sewn onto the turban and forms its extension.
The chinstraps consist of two parts: the supple leather chinstrap, coated with black velvet, adorned with 15 gold-plated copper shells cut into 3 festoons and bordered with fine engraving with foliage motifs (2.7 cm); at the back of this headpiece, two brass tabs curve inside the turban. This lion's head receives a silver-plated copper disc (diameter 4.2 cm), completing the rosette. The chinstrap is finished with a black silk ribbon.
Golden brass plume holder slightly tapering downwards, equipped with a tightening screw to fix the plume. Height 5.3 cm.
The crest is made of gilded brass with stamped decorations: the wings have a maximum height of 12 cm, width 5.5 cm, each bearing 9 flutes; the mask is 5.3 cm wide; at the top, a relief-stamped Medusa head is represented, in the bottom part, two laurel branches followed by a palmette are also relief-stamped.
In the central part of the mask, there is an embossed silver-plated brass breastplate bearing the number "1" in its center (H 4.7 cm, width 3.4 cm). The mask and crest are fastened with nine gilt brass rivets. The covering plate garnishing the top of the crest is finely engraved with foliage scrolls, palmettes, and laurel branches.
Aigrette holder composed of a 3.2 cm high and 6.5 cm diameter olive-shaped piece, formed by 10 riveted gilded brass strips, alternately smooth and undecorated or relief-stamped with geometric designs; an embossed palmette socket, H 3.5 cm, diameter 2.7 cm; black horsehair aigrette, H 5.8 cm.
Black horsehair mane, approximately 78 cm long.
Missing internal liner.
Total height 40 cm.
Very good conservation state: the crest has retained 90% of its gilt, some rubbing on protruding parts, steel skullcap with normal oxidation due to rarity and age, chinstrap in very good condition retaining its original gilding, visor rim de-gilded, sealskin turban with damages and missing parts but original, which is extremely rare.
CUIRASS:
Steel composed of a backplate and breastplate.
BREASTPLATE bordered by 34 brass nails. Two nails are riveted at chest level to attach the backplate's shoulder straps.
BACKPLATE bordered by 28 brass nails, lined at the top with two leather straps coated with scarlet cloth bordered with a gilt silver braided trim and covered with a double chainmail in gilt brass mesh with a gilt brass lock engraved with oak leaf branches, ending with red leather tabs embroidered with gilt silver threads. At the top of these straps, a brass plate is screwed with three round-headed screws, decorated with a relief lion head (diameter 4.1 cm).
At the bottom, a red leather belt embroidered with two framing strips in gilt silver threads is attached by two brass screws on each side with a gilt brass tightening buckle.
Very good condition, slight steel oxidation, the straps are in very good condition, missing the left leather tab at the lock, leather belt with wear and usual damages but complete.
France.
First Empire.
NOTE:
The cuirassier armours of the First Empire are extremely rare and are very representative of the charges and battles of the Napoleonic era. The set presented today is very homogeneous, without restoration or modification. The steel skullcap helmet is reserved for officers during wartime and combat. We know very few examples of this kind, less than five in the world, unlike the classic helmets with silver or silver-plated copper skulls of which we know several dozen examples. This helmet has a typical "Minerva" skull used by officers and not by troops, guaranteeing its authenticity.
PROVENANCE:
Formerly owned by Christian Blondieau.
HISTORY:
The 1st Cuirassier Regiment was created in 1803. It participated in all the major battles of the First Empire: 1805 at Wertingen, Ulm, Hollabrünn, Raussnitz, Austerlitz; 1806 at Jena, capture of Lübeck; 1807 at Hoff; 1809 at Eckmülh, Regensburg, Essling, Wagram, Hollabrünn, Znaïm; 1812 at Borodino, Vyazma; 1813 at La Katzbach, Leipzig, Hanau, defense of Hamburg; 1814 during the campaign of France, it distinguished itself on the battlefields of La Chaussée, Vauchamps, Bar-sur-Aube, Cézanne, Valcourt; finally in 1815 during the campaign in Belgium, the 1st regiment fought in the battles of Ligny, Genappe, Waterloo.
HELMET:
The steel skullcap is approximately 10 cm deep, tilted backwards in the "Minerva" style, with a 3-4 mm wide gutter at the bottom to prevent water infiltration under the turban.
The turban consists of a leather band approximately 9 cm high at the front, 8 cm on the sides at the level of the rosettes, and 10 cm at the back. It is covered with genuine sealskin with some damage and missing parts. At the back, there is a strap with a square steel buckle with two prongs and a counter-strap for tightening the cap. The leather visor is covered with skin, encircled with a gilt brass rim, and measures 7.5 cm long; it is lined inside with green waxed calfskin; it is sewn onto the turban and forms its extension.
The chinstraps consist of two parts: the supple leather chinstrap, coated with black velvet, adorned with 15 gold-plated copper shells cut into 3 festoons and bordered with fine engraving with foliage motifs (2.7 cm); at the back of this headpiece, two brass tabs curve inside the turban. This lion's head receives a silver-plated copper disc (diameter 4.2 cm), completing the rosette. The chinstrap is finished with a black silk ribbon.
Golden brass plume holder slightly tapering downwards, equipped with a tightening screw to fix the plume. Height 5.3 cm.
The crest is made of gilded brass with stamped decorations: the wings have a maximum height of 12 cm, width 5.5 cm, each bearing 9 flutes; the mask is 5.3 cm wide; at the top, a relief-stamped Medusa head is represented, in the bottom part, two laurel branches followed by a palmette are also relief-stamped.
In the central part of the mask, there is an embossed silver-plated brass breastplate bearing the number "1" in its center (H 4.7 cm, width 3.4 cm). The mask and crest are fastened with nine gilt brass rivets. The covering plate garnishing the top of the crest is finely engraved with foliage scrolls, palmettes, and laurel branches.
Aigrette holder composed of a 3.2 cm high and 6.5 cm diameter olive-shaped piece, formed by 10 riveted gilded brass strips, alternately smooth and undecorated or relief-stamped with geometric designs; an embossed palmette socket, H 3.5 cm, diameter 2.7 cm; black horsehair aigrette, H 5.8 cm.
Black horsehair mane, approximately 78 cm long.
Missing internal liner.
Total height 40 cm.
Very good conservation state: the crest has retained 90% of its gilt, some rubbing on protruding parts, steel skullcap with normal oxidation due to rarity and age, chinstrap in very good condition retaining its original gilding, visor rim de-gilded, sealskin turban with damages and missing parts but original, which is extremely rare.
CUIRASS:
Steel composed of a backplate and breastplate.
BREASTPLATE bordered by 34 brass nails. Two nails are riveted at chest level to attach the backplate's shoulder straps.
BACKPLATE bordered by 28 brass nails, lined at the top with two leather straps coated with scarlet cloth bordered with a gilt silver braided trim and covered with a double chainmail in gilt brass mesh with a gilt brass lock engraved with oak leaf branches, ending with red leather tabs embroidered with gilt silver threads. At the top of these straps, a brass plate is screwed with three round-headed screws, decorated with a relief lion head (diameter 4.1 cm).
At the bottom, a red leather belt embroidered with two framing strips in gilt silver threads is attached by two brass screws on each side with a gilt brass tightening buckle.
Very good condition, slight steel oxidation, the straps are in very good condition, missing the left leather tab at the lock, leather belt with wear and usual damages but complete.
France.
First Empire.
NOTE:
The cuirassier armours of the First Empire are extremely rare and are very representative of the charges and battles of the Napoleonic era. The set presented today is very homogeneous, without restoration or modification. The steel skullcap helmet is reserved for officers during wartime and combat. We know very few examples of this kind, less than five in the world, unlike the classic helmets with silver or silver-plated copper skulls of which we know several dozen examples. This helmet has a typical "Minerva" skull used by officers and not by troops, guaranteeing its authenticity.
PROVENANCE:
Formerly owned by Christian Blondieau.
HISTORY:
The 1st Cuirassier Regiment was created in 1803. It participated in all the major battles of the First Empire: 1805 at Wertingen, Ulm, Hollabrünn, Raussnitz, Austerlitz; 1806 at Jena, capture of Lübeck; 1807 at Hoff; 1809 at Eckmülh, Regensburg, Essling, Wagram, Hollabrünn, Znaïm; 1812 at Borodino, Vyazma; 1813 at La Katzbach, Leipzig, Hanau, defense of Hamburg; 1814 during the campaign of France, it distinguished itself on the battlefields of La Chaussée, Vauchamps, Bar-sur-Aube, Cézanne, Valcourt; finally in 1815 during the campaign in Belgium, the 1st regiment fought in the battles of Ligny, Genappe, Waterloo.
Reference :
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