OFFICER'S HELMET OF THE 8th REGIMENT OF DRAGOONS (KNOWN AS THE CONDÉ), worn during the Hundred Days, from March 1, 1815 to May 1, 1815. 27478

OFFICER'S HELMET OF THE 8th REGIMENT OF DRAGOONS (KNOWN AS THE CONDÉ), worn during the Hundred Days, from March 1, 1815 to May 1, 1815. 27478

Gilt copper skullcap approximately 11 cm deep, leaning backward, of a so-called "minerva" shape, 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, covered with genuine panther skin. Leather visor covered with skin, lined with black waxed morocco leather, encircled with a gilded brass rim folded over the outer edge, and 7.5 cm wide in the center, sewn to the turban and forming its extension. Nape cover covered with skin, lined with black waxed morocco leather, encircled with a gilded brass rim folded over the outer edge, approximately 5 cm wide in the center.
Tubular plume holder with a square section, slightly tapering towards the bottom, equipped with a tightening screw to secure the plume. H 5 cm.
Gilt brass crest composed of two wings and a mask. Wings up to a maximum height of 12 cm, each struck with 9 separated flutes, each fixed to the skullcap by four rivets.
Mask 4 cm wide at its center, 5.5 cm at its base, and 13 cm in height; it is embossed in relief with a Medusa head at the top, and at the bottom is embossed with seven petals, it is fixed to the skullcap by means of a hook allowing the chin straps to be held up.
The central part of the mask is originally stamped with the arms of Condé, modified during the Hundred Days by the addition of a silver medallion with the number "8" (8th Regiment of Dragoons), H of the medallion 3 cm, width 2.3 cm.
Chin straps consisting of two parts: the soft leather chin strap, covered with black velvet, adorned with 18 gilt brass scales, alternately cut into 4 or 3 festoons (the widest measuring 5.5 cm and the narrowest 1.7 cm); round-shaped rosette, Ø 4.5 cm, in gilt brass stamped with a fleur-de-lis. Chin straps finished with gilded silver passementerie braids.
Black horsehair plume extending 20 cm in front of the crest.
Interior cap composed of a band of fine black waxed leather 6.3 cm high, topped with a beige canvas 8 cm high.
Total height of the helmet 39 cm.

France.
Hundred Days, worn from March 1, 1815 to May 1, 1815. 27478
Good condition. Skin of the turban has lost all its fur. Minor damages to the crest and dents on the skullcap. Gilt plume holder worn off, later replaced but period-correct. Chin strap rosettes modified in 1815. Leather and lining of chin straps restored. One tassel missing from one of the chin strap braids. Interior cap complete but worn. Damage to the skullcap under the crest (not visible to the naked eye).

PROVENANCE:
Former Charles Marchal collection.

NOTE:
This helmet is an officer's helmet of the First Empire Dragoons. On May 1, 1814, when it became the regiment of the Condé Dragoons, it assumed the number 8 in the army (comprising 4 squadrons of 2 companies of 78 men each), the plume socket and the cover plate were removed and replaced by the horsehair plume, the mask bearing a silver "N" was replaced by one embossed with the arms of Condé. On March 20, 1815, with the return of the Emperor, the arms of Condé were masked by the regiment number "8" struck on the silver medallion fixed in the center of the mask, however, on either side of the medallion still appear the six banner pikes characterizing the Condé Dragoons. It was worn in this manner until May 1, 1815, when the regiment took on the number 13.
However, given the troubled period, it is not impossible that this helmet was worn like this during the last three months of the Empire.
This is the only known specimen of this type to date.

HISTORICAL:
The 13th Dragoon Regiment was raised in Languedoc by order of October 4, 1676. It successively took the names: Condé-Dragons (1724-1740), Comte de Provence (1774) then Monsieur (1774). In 1791, it became the 13th Dragoon Regiment on January 1. At the fall of the Empire, under the First Restoration, on May 1, 1814, it became the Condé Dragoons Regiment (8th regiment). On May 1, 1815, it regained its name as the 13th Dragoon Regiment, and was disbanded on December 6, 1815, in Saintes.
During the Hundred Days, it was assigned to the 2nd Cavalry Corps under General Exelmans, in Stroltz's Dragoon division of Burthe's brigade. It fought at Fleurus on June 15, at Ligny on June 16, at Perwez on June 17, and at Wawre under Marshal Grouchy on June 18. It retreated to Paris, and on July 1, 1815, it engaged in combat at Velizy.
The regiment would be reestablished in 1855 under the name of the Empress's Dragoon Regiment.