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.  Beautiful and rare group recently found in Europe. The grouping 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 one small (un-repaired) cracks on back right panel (see photos). These can be easily repaired.  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).

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.  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 Officer cockade on right side with the non-serrated Hessen cockade on left side.

This is an exceptionally rare and un-restored helmet from the WWI era.