OFFICER'S HELMET OF THE CUIRASSIERS, model 1872 modified 1874, Third Republic. 33751

OFFICER'S CUIRASSIER HELMET, model 1872 modified 1874, Third Republic. 33751

Comprising a shell; a visor; a neck guard; a copper band; two chin scales; a crest; a mane; a plume holder; a crest ornament; and an interior lining.
Shell embossed with a balance, in planished nickel-plated copper, stamped "ALEXIS GODILLOT", pierced at the top with three vent holes.
Visor inclined at 53 degrees below a horizontal plane passing through the junction of the visor and shell. Edged with a 7.6 mm wide gilded copper circle placed on its edges and fixed at the ends with a rivet. Underside of visor lined with green waxed buff leather. Visor width 5 cm. Neck guard composed of a circular band on its flat, welded under the posterior edge of the band extending it, it includes three gilded brass nails with spherical heads riveted inside; a second concave band, forming a groove, with rounded angles and welded inside, at the bottom of the first. Like the visor, the neck guard is edged with a 7 mm wide gilded copper band placed on it. It is lined with ivory buff leather.
Copper band, stamped with a flaming grenade surrounded by laurel leaves, adherent to the shell. Its base rests on the visor and its ends are riveted to the shell in the part concealed by the chin scale rosette. Front height of the band 6.5 cm.
Each chin scale is composed of 9 embossed copper ornamental leaves shaped like laurel leaves, decreasing in width (maximum width 4.2 cm, minimum width 2 cm). These scales are fixed with flattened wire staples to a core of black velvet-lined leather. At the other end is a black varnished calf skin chin strap . The uppermost leaf of each chin scale is terminated by a rounded part embossed with a circular rosette featuring relief laurel leaves (rosette diameter 5.3 cm) and fixed to the shell by a lock. The shell is topped with a gilded copper crest composed of two wings, a mask, and a cover. The wings, vertically positioned at a distance of 3.2 cm apart in the front and 2.5 cm in the back, have a convex curvilinear triangle shape at the top connected to the shell by a concave base forming a scalloped edge. This edge is fixed to the shell by 2 round-headed copper screws on each side, stopped inside the helmet by square copper nuts. The wings are adorned with palmettes and a border net on their upper edge; the edge is adorned with water leaves, all embossed in relief. A tin plate joins the upper edges of the wings fixing their spacing. The mask serving as the anterior attachment to the two wings by means of welding, is embossed with a relief Medusa head. The cover, also embossed, represents the continuation of the Medusa head's hair with intertwined snakes. Crest ornament composed of a 2.4 cm high socket, diameter 4.6 cm, stamped with relief water leaves and a 2.5 cm high and 1.9 cm diameter lens formed of two embossed shells. Fixed on the front of the crest and supporting a scarlet horsehair plume (height 5.5 cm).
Mane made of black dyed horsehair, mounted on a sole of strong nourished cowhide, in which the hairs are assembled with tinned brass wires with a piece of buff leather glued with strong glue on the assembly; the space left empty between the two rows of hairs is filled with a braid that starts from the top and follows the curve of the crest until its junction with the shell. Mane length approximately 65 cm.
Copper plume holder, embossed, height 3.5 cm, forming a square section socket, fixed obliquely.
Interior lining of black waxed leather cut with seven wolf teeth each fitted with a metal eyelet.

France.
Third Republic.
Very good condition, some wear and oxidation on nickel-plated parts, gilding intact except for visor and neck guard rims, inner liner in perfect condition.