Hessen 25th Field Artillery Officers Pickelhaube

Hessen 25th Field Artillery Officer (1st Grand Duke of Hessen Field Artillery – Darmstadt - Founded in 1790), Officer Model 1897 – after April 6, 1915. The helmet is being offered “as found” and uncleaned. Black lacquered helmet with fire gilt metal trim. Leather helmet body has perfect form and firm stitching. Exterior lacquer has matte age-related finish with some small crazing (see photos). The metal trim retains its fine fire gilded shine. No extra holes in helmet body, although the Hessen Star, awarded in 1915, is secured by its own screw posts (* 2 for the front plate and 2 for the star device). This is the proper attached method for attaching the star when first issues.

The leather helmet body is the Hessen style with round front visor and crossed spike base. The spike base has officer style ornamentation that in Hessen is exclusively used by Hessen Artillery Regiments and General Officer. Back spine has domed rivets as is proper for Hessen helmets. The helmet interior has light tan sweat leather and silk headliner. The liner shows light use but is still in excellent condition. PLEASE NOTE that the silk headliner has the stamp of a German Costume Shop that obtained it after WWI. Interior visors are green and red as is normal. Slight scuffing on edge of rear of back visor (see photos).

The frontplate is the gilded Hessen rampant Lion on which was placed the enameled Hessen House Order with Crossed Swords. The House Order was awarded to this regiment and the Hessen 23rd Dragoon Regiment om April 6, 1915, to commemorate the 125 anniversaries of the founding of the regiments. This star was only awarded to Officers. Gilded rounded chinscales on rosettes. Standard Reich Officer cockade on right side with the non-serrated Hessen cockade on left side.This is a 100% original and exceptionally rare and un-restored helmet from the WWI era.

*We have not taken the front plate off for photography as we normally do. We were unable to easily remove the star/front plate. We did not want to damage the helmet by forcing removal. AOK guarantees the frontplate is original to the helmet.