Is this the earliest known Pickelhaube photograph?

Tony without Kaiser

Tony without Kaiser

Departed
Staff member
Look at this. A photograph of a soldier wearing an M1842 Pickelhaube! :king:

Although commercial photographs on tin were available from August 1839 by Louis Daguerre as Daguerreotypes, this image was captured as an early Cartes-de-visite which were introduced by Parisian photographer, Andre Disdéri in 1854. Due to the significant changes introduced in the shape of the Pickelhaube between 1857 and 1860, this photograph was probably taken at least prior to 1860, making it the oldest photograph of a Pickelhaube in use that I am aware of. I am not aware of any other photograph owned or in print, of an M1842 Pickelhaube being worn.

The photographer was Atelier (studio) Ernst Fentsch Neisse. It is signed by a Freiwilliger (One year volunteer) and annotated that he belonged to Infanterie-Regiment Graf Bose (1. Thüringisches) Nr.31 from Altona.

dbh09k.jpg


Oh, and yes, this Cartes-de-visite is sitting right now on my end-table, far away from my glass of red wine! :drunken:
 
Hi Tony:

Would it be possible to see close-up detail of the Feldspange? The ribbon might help to establish the date.

Wunderlich CDV!

Chas.
 
Lost Skeleton said:
Would it be possible to see close-up detail of the Feldspange? The ribbon might help to establish the date.
Click to expand...

Here you go Chas. Good luck. I cannot even tell if it is one giant ribbon or two? They seem to angle off on the sides?

dbh09o.jpg
 
Now, that's clear as mud. I believe the bar consists of two ribbons, double wrapped, in the old "trapezoid" style. Since the helmet is M1842 and the wearer an Einjährigfreiwilliger, the Kriegsdenkmünzen of the 1860s and Dienstauszeichnung can be ruled out. Likewise, the EK may be eliminated as it was not reintroduced until 1870.

I'm stumped.

Chas. :scratch:
 
I know zip as far as decorations go or the order of precedence. The ribbon on the right (wearer's left) appears to be 2 colors, the one to the left (wearer's right) appears to be 3 colors.


Geo
 
Hi Geo:

Our eyes agree. The only Preußen medal I could find in my references with a distinct three color scheme (vertical stripes of white-black-yellow) is the 1864 Kriegsdenkmünze for the war with Denmark.

Because this is a paper print of poor detail, it is possible for the image to be a talbotype/calotype, a process patented in England in 1839. As to the color sensitivity of talbotypes, I haven't the foggiest.

Consequently, analysis of the Feldspange is, alas, useless. The helmet still provides the best reference regarding the period of the photograph, and the talbotype process would have been the most versatile of the 1840s. It is quite possible the image predates Disdéri.

Conjecture notwithstanding, the portrait would have cost its subject a considerable sum. Tony's Einjährigfreiwilliger was certainly well heeled.

Chas. :love10:
 
joerookery said:
Ok how about close ups of the wappen and shoulderboards?
Click to expand...

You will get that close-up this evening. If you are astute Joe, you will pick up on the hint and make the connection............. Hmm........ Friday evening.........

I am also stumped on the ribbons. A Einjährigfreiwilliger would have to buy his kit, so he would probably not buy an M1842 after the new models came out. Issued helmets, sure. I'll bet issued M1842 were being worn long after the M1857 and M1860 came out. It takes years to re-fit units with new kit.
 
Wow. Did I read that inscription wrong! :pale: I thought it was Freiwilliger (One year volunteer) but was confused by the officer's sword and knot. The ribbon was also odd as Chas mentioned.

R1 was good enough to set me straight and mentioned privately to me that the abbreviation in front of the name is actually Freiherr and that the fellow in the photo is either an officer cadet or a junior grade officer.

My friend Rick Lündstrom also agreed and read it as Freiherr Treusch von Buttlar Brandenfels.

R1 also mentioned that Preußen started wearing the large trapezoidal ribbon bar in the 1850's and the bar in the photo is probably for the award related to actions in the 1848/49 rebellion.
 
Tony,

I believe it probably is nearer to 1848/49 bearing in mind that the bandolier method of wearing the sword was replaced by a waist belt in 1848.

Regards
Glenn
 
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