Bavarian Leibgarde der Hartschiere Officers Helmet

Bavarian Hartschiere Officer helmet Model 1852 with Parade Lion. Original and untouched helmet from a noted US collection. Nickeled metal helmet body with attached visors. The front visor with painted green underlay (only traces left on this helmet) and the rear visor with painted black underlay. Gilded cross base, lion, rivets and trim. Gilded officer front plate of Bavarian shield and crown attached by three screw posts. Gilded ornate interwoven chin scales with large Bavarian crown rosette side posts. The gilded Parade Lion is separately attached to the helmet with screws. Complete with original fancy leather liner with velvet inner trim. The helmet is all original and has never been cleaned or polished. The condition is excellent with fine gilding intact. Extremely rare helmet. 

The Hartschiere contingent consisted of 106 soldiers selected from the Bavarian Army. They were NCO soldiers of impeccable character and conduct. The issued helmets for use of the NCO members were numbered with a metal planchette inside the back visor. The Officers of the unit were chosen by the Bavarian King and were associated with the highest class ranking in the Hofrangordnung (court order of noble precedence). Hartschiere officer helmets were custom made for the Noble owner.

The Hartschier-Garde was formed in 1669 when the Bavarian Duke William IV received a Spanish archer company (Spanish: arqueros) of Charles I of Spain to serve as the ceremonial guard for the Duke. The name Hartschiere is Bavarian equivalent, the Austrian Arcièren-Leibgarde (Ancient Archers).  The commander of the Hartschiere troop had the title Generalkapitän (the last one was Graf v. Bothmer, à la Suite des Infanterie-Leib-Regiments) associated with the highest class ranking in the Hofrangordnung (court order of precedence). He was appointed personally by the Bavarian King.

**Note that the pictures associated with this posting are NOT part of the sale. The first picture shows a Hartschier (Eduard Bash) in "Waffenrock" , the two later picture where taken in 1929 with the GeneralKapitän Felix Graf von Bothmer (1852-1937) in presence of Prinz Alfons of Bavaria..... Yes, they still wore these helmets then! Two more copies of the Ranglisten with the names of the officers.