Prussian General a la Suite Pickelhaube

Prussian General a la’ Suite Officer with proper General Officer style fluted spike - Model 1897. From the Rich Ames Collection. Black lacquered leather helmet body with silver metal trim. The helmet has perfect form and firm stitching. External lacquer is lightly crazed due to age but no lacquer loss. The are extra holes in the helmet body (see photos), but the frontplate has been on the helmet for a long time. The helmet interior has soft sweat leather and fine green silk headliner. The sweat leather has a tear in the back (see photos). Inner visors color red and green. Crossed spike base in silver with special “general officer” style flute spike (see photos). The base has gold star retainers which is proper for the General a la’ Suite. The frontplate is the massive, frosted silver Prussian Guard eagle with enameled Guard star on the breast of the eagle.

Rounded silver chinscales on silver rosettes. Officer Prussian and Reichs cockades. The extra holes can be rationalized as the General a la’ suite officers served at the order of the General and were drawn from the officer ranks. This was usually a high “social position” and after their service the officer usually returned to their regiment. The extra holes indicated a plate change. The frontplate appears to have been used continuously and have left deep impressions in the leather helmet body. This helmet that has never been cleaned or polished. The flaws allow us to officer this rare and beautiful helmet at a bargain price.