Helmet and breastplate of an officer from the 1st Cuirassier Regiment (1810-1814), First Empire. 33636-33611(201)
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OFFICER'S HELMET AND CUIRASS OF THE 1st REGIMENT OF CUIRASSIERS (1810-1814), First Empire. 33636-33611(201)
HELMET:
Steel helmet approximately 10 cm deep, tilted backwards, with a so-called "Minerva" crest, lower part trimmed with a 3-4 mm wide gutter to prevent water infiltration under the turban.
Turban consisting 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 seal skin with some damages and missing parts. At the back, a strap with a square buckle in steel with two prongs and a counter-strap for securing the coif. Leather visor covered with skin, circled with a gilded brass rim measuring 7.5 cm long; it is lined inside with green waxed sheepskin and sewn to the turban, forming its extension.
Chin straps each consisting of two parts: a chin piece and a rosette. Chin piece in soft leather, covered with black velvet, adorned with 15 gold-plated copper scales, the edges cut into 3 scalloped and engraved with a small flower on each scallop. Chin piece finished with a black silk ribbon. Rosette in the shape of a lion's head molded in brass, height 3.3 cm, width 3 cm; it is attached to the turban by two brass tabs curving inward. This lion's head receives a silver-plated copper disc (Ø 4.2 cm) completing the rosette.
Plume holder in gilded brass slightly tapering downwards, with a tightening screw to fix the plume. Height 5.3 cm.
Crest in gilded brass with embossed decorations: maximum height of the finials 12 cm, width 5.5 cm, each struck with 9 gadroons; a mask 5.3 cm wide; at the top, a relief-stamped image of a Medusa's head is depicted, in the lower part two laurel branches and a palmette are also embossed in relief. In the central part of the mask, an embossed silver-plated copper breastplate bearing the numeral "1" in its center (height 4.7 cm, width 3.4 cm). Mask and crest fixed to the helmet by nine gilded flat head brass rivets. Cover plate embellishing the top of the crest finely engraved with foliage scrolls, palmettes, and laurel branches.
Plume socket consisting of an olive 3.2 cm high and 6.5 cm in diameter, formed of 10 gilded brass lamellae riveted together, alternately smooth and without decorations or embossed with geometric designs; an embossed palmette socket, height 3.5 cm, diameter 2.7 cm; black horsehair plume height 5.8 cm.
Black horsehair mane, approximately 78 cm long.
Total height 40 cm.
France.
First Empire.
Good state of preservation, the crest has retained its gilding with some rubbing on the protruding parts, oxidation on the helmet from use, chin straps in good condition retaining their original gilding, visor rim ungilded, damages and missing parts on the turban skin, missing interior padding.
CUIRASS:
Made of steel composed of a breastplate and a backplate.
Breastplate:
Edged with 34 brass nails. Two additional nails are riveted at chest level to attach the backplate's shoulder pieces. Breastplate edged with a rounded rim, except at the neck where the rim is raised.
Backplate:
Edged with 28 brass nails, trimmed at the top with two leather shoulder pieces covered in scarlet cloth, edged with a silver lace galloon, and covered with a double chainmail in gilded brass with a gilded brass lock engraved with oak leaf motifs, finished with red leather straps embroidered with gold and silver threads. At the upper part of these shoulder pieces, a brass plate is screwed using three round-headed screws, this plate is decorated with a relief lion's head (Ø 4.1 cm). At the bottom, a red leather belt embroidered with two silver thread framing rods, attached by two brass screws on each side with a gilded brass tightening buckle.
Backplate edged with a rounded rim except at the neck where the rim is raised.
France.
First Empire.
Good condition, oxidation, missing red leather strap at the left lock, leather belt showing wear and usage damages but complete.
NOTE:
The cuirassier armors of the First Empire are extremely rare and are highly representative of the charges and battles of the Napoleonic era. The ensemble presented today is consistent. The steel domed helmet is reserved for officers during times of war and combat. Few examples are known to exist, less than five in the world, unlike the conventional helmets with silver or silver-plated copper domes of which several dozen examples are known. This helmet has a typical "Minerva" crest characteristic of officers and not used by the troops.
PROVENANCE:
Former collection of Christian Blondieau.
HISTORICAL:
The 1st Cuirassier Regiment was created in 1803. It participated in all the major battles of the First Empire: 1805, Wertingen, Ulm, Hollabrünn, Raussnitz, Austerlitz; 1806, Jena, taking of Lübeck; 1807, Hoff; 1809, Eckmühl, Ratisbonne, Essling, Wagram, Hollabrünn, Znaim; 1812, La Moskowa, Winkowo; 1813, La Katzbach, Leipzig, Hannau, defense of Hamburg; 1814, during the campaign in 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 was engaged in the battles of Ligny, Genappe, and Waterloo.
HELMET:
Steel helmet approximately 10 cm deep, tilted backwards, with a so-called "Minerva" crest, lower part trimmed with a 3-4 mm wide gutter to prevent water infiltration under the turban.
Turban consisting 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 seal skin with some damages and missing parts. At the back, a strap with a square buckle in steel with two prongs and a counter-strap for securing the coif. Leather visor covered with skin, circled with a gilded brass rim measuring 7.5 cm long; it is lined inside with green waxed sheepskin and sewn to the turban, forming its extension.
Chin straps each consisting of two parts: a chin piece and a rosette. Chin piece in soft leather, covered with black velvet, adorned with 15 gold-plated copper scales, the edges cut into 3 scalloped and engraved with a small flower on each scallop. Chin piece finished with a black silk ribbon. Rosette in the shape of a lion's head molded in brass, height 3.3 cm, width 3 cm; it is attached to the turban by two brass tabs curving inward. This lion's head receives a silver-plated copper disc (Ø 4.2 cm) completing the rosette.
Plume holder in gilded brass slightly tapering downwards, with a tightening screw to fix the plume. Height 5.3 cm.
Crest in gilded brass with embossed decorations: maximum height of the finials 12 cm, width 5.5 cm, each struck with 9 gadroons; a mask 5.3 cm wide; at the top, a relief-stamped image of a Medusa's head is depicted, in the lower part two laurel branches and a palmette are also embossed in relief. In the central part of the mask, an embossed silver-plated copper breastplate bearing the numeral "1" in its center (height 4.7 cm, width 3.4 cm). Mask and crest fixed to the helmet by nine gilded flat head brass rivets. Cover plate embellishing the top of the crest finely engraved with foliage scrolls, palmettes, and laurel branches.
Plume socket consisting of an olive 3.2 cm high and 6.5 cm in diameter, formed of 10 gilded brass lamellae riveted together, alternately smooth and without decorations or embossed with geometric designs; an embossed palmette socket, height 3.5 cm, diameter 2.7 cm; black horsehair plume height 5.8 cm.
Black horsehair mane, approximately 78 cm long.
Total height 40 cm.
France.
First Empire.
Good state of preservation, the crest has retained its gilding with some rubbing on the protruding parts, oxidation on the helmet from use, chin straps in good condition retaining their original gilding, visor rim ungilded, damages and missing parts on the turban skin, missing interior padding.
CUIRASS:
Made of steel composed of a breastplate and a backplate.
Breastplate:
Edged with 34 brass nails. Two additional nails are riveted at chest level to attach the backplate's shoulder pieces. Breastplate edged with a rounded rim, except at the neck where the rim is raised.
Backplate:
Edged with 28 brass nails, trimmed at the top with two leather shoulder pieces covered in scarlet cloth, edged with a silver lace galloon, and covered with a double chainmail in gilded brass with a gilded brass lock engraved with oak leaf motifs, finished with red leather straps embroidered with gold and silver threads. At the upper part of these shoulder pieces, a brass plate is screwed using three round-headed screws, this plate is decorated with a relief lion's head (Ø 4.1 cm). At the bottom, a red leather belt embroidered with two silver thread framing rods, attached by two brass screws on each side with a gilded brass tightening buckle.
Backplate edged with a rounded rim except at the neck where the rim is raised.
France.
First Empire.
Good condition, oxidation, missing red leather strap at the left lock, leather belt showing wear and usage damages but complete.
NOTE:
The cuirassier armors of the First Empire are extremely rare and are highly representative of the charges and battles of the Napoleonic era. The ensemble presented today is consistent. The steel domed helmet is reserved for officers during times of war and combat. Few examples are known to exist, less than five in the world, unlike the conventional helmets with silver or silver-plated copper domes of which several dozen examples are known. This helmet has a typical "Minerva" crest characteristic of officers and not used by the troops.
PROVENANCE:
Former collection of Christian Blondieau.
HISTORICAL:
The 1st Cuirassier Regiment was created in 1803. It participated in all the major battles of the First Empire: 1805, Wertingen, Ulm, Hollabrünn, Raussnitz, Austerlitz; 1806, Jena, taking of Lübeck; 1807, Hoff; 1809, Eckmühl, Ratisbonne, Essling, Wagram, Hollabrünn, Znaim; 1812, La Moskowa, Winkowo; 1813, La Katzbach, Leipzig, Hannau, defense of Hamburg; 1814, during the campaign in 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 was engaged in the battles of Ligny, Genappe, and Waterloo.
Reference :
33636-33611(201)
Next update Friday, February 27 at 13:30 PM
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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).
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).