Greetings everyone. I am new to this site, and this is my first post.
I have been collecting militaria since I was 14 years old, and am now 40. Needless to say I've learnt a lot in that time. I bought this pickelhaube in London around 1995-6, (I still have the receipt).
I mainly collect antique swords and edged weapons, but a while back I bought an officers pickelhaube because it looked so attractive. Therefore my knowledge of pickelhaubes is rather limited. This piece has age appropriate wear, and looks original to me. It was only as I began learning more about pickelhaubes that I became concerned that the helmet plate on this Prussian officers helmet has an obvious problem: it is not gilded.
1. This could be because successive owners cleaned and polished the eagle until the gilding was all removed. But I can't see even a trace in the recesses.
2. Or a dealer put an Other Ranks eagle on to an officers helmet, to sell to a rookie. If this was the case, I don't understand how this eagle fits to the helmet contours like a well tailored suit. No gaps at all, like it was made for the helmet shape.
3. Or the whole thing is a fake. The dealer is an old man now, but still trading. If he sold a 15 year old boy a fake helmet then I will be seeking not a refund of 1990's prices, but a replacement for a top conditioned officers helmet as described in the bill of sale.
I would really appreciate the opinions of the experienced collectors on what this helmet is, and any views on the helmet plate/eagle.
Best regards
Arminius
I have been collecting militaria since I was 14 years old, and am now 40. Needless to say I've learnt a lot in that time. I bought this pickelhaube in London around 1995-6, (I still have the receipt).
I mainly collect antique swords and edged weapons, but a while back I bought an officers pickelhaube because it looked so attractive. Therefore my knowledge of pickelhaubes is rather limited. This piece has age appropriate wear, and looks original to me. It was only as I began learning more about pickelhaubes that I became concerned that the helmet plate on this Prussian officers helmet has an obvious problem: it is not gilded.
1. This could be because successive owners cleaned and polished the eagle until the gilding was all removed. But I can't see even a trace in the recesses.
2. Or a dealer put an Other Ranks eagle on to an officers helmet, to sell to a rookie. If this was the case, I don't understand how this eagle fits to the helmet contours like a well tailored suit. No gaps at all, like it was made for the helmet shape.
3. Or the whole thing is a fake. The dealer is an old man now, but still trading. If he sold a 15 year old boy a fake helmet then I will be seeking not a refund of 1990's prices, but a replacement for a top conditioned officers helmet as described in the bill of sale.
I would really appreciate the opinions of the experienced collectors on what this helmet is, and any views on the helmet plate/eagle.
Best regards
Arminius
