French Cuirassier de la Garde Imperial Enlisted Helmet - Franco/Prussian War

French model 1854, Cuirassier de la Garde - Modified in 1871- Helmet. The regiment participated in the battle of Mars La Tour on the 16th of August 1870 against the Prussien Army. This batttle is also known as the Last Major Cavalry fight on European soil. Later the remnants of the unit ended up in the Siege of Metz ....and surrendered. In 1871 after the armistice, Cuirassier de la Garde regiment has joined the 12th Cuirassier Regiment.

Polished steel body with brass trim in very good condition, left uncleaned with surface rust mainly (see detailed photos). No specific markings unless they are underneath the horse tail that we did not remove. The Stamp from "Delachaussee" can be seen underneath the back visor. The front and back visor have the brass trim and are lined underneath with a thin leather "basane" that remains in excellent condition - usually missing- but shows some light wear to the front. This is easy to restore.  

The front bandeau in made of stamped brass with laurel branches surounding the "Flaming Bomb". This emblem was initially the "Crowned N" it was replaced 1871 with the surrender of the Empire. A tall cimier with 9 elongated rectangles on both sides and a "Medusa head" in front -unique to this model- tops the helmet. An original to period black Horsehair mane that remains in good condition with about 65% of its original hair.

The specific "Marmouset" - also unique to this helmet - in stamped brass with red "brush" finishes the helmet. A set of brass chained scales on circles, mounted on leather and maintained by two "Marguerites" will complete the helmet. The inside has the original 9 tong leather liner in good to excellent condition, just a little tired from over 150 years of storage!

This helmet is 100% untouched by the collector and remained in such condition since it was found. We assume that its actual usage timewith the Flaming Bomb bandeau was extremely short since a new and last model of Cuirassier Helmet was born in 1872/74. Rare example of a Regiment that made history.