Spiked Shako

[ukturkcollector]

Photo taken by Chris, German Colonial Uniforms

Pre-1900 headgear from the Persian Imperial Kingdom, likely for the Imperial Guard. Not much is really known about early Iranian militaria. But we can see how European ideas were translated, and reinterpreted in this piece of unique military headgear.

 

[badener]

The Persian gendarme was officered by Swedes. Could this be the influence?

 

[pointystuff]

It looks like a Frankenhaube that would show up on the 'bay. It proves the old saying, "The more one knows, the less one knows."

 

[ukturkcollector]

The Persian shako with spike is authentic to the period.

Hi badener, that's a very good observation about the The Persian gendarme was officered by Swedes, and that this could this be the influence (for the spikes being used).

Another strong influence on the Persian/Iranian military at this time was the Russians. And they have also long used the spike helmet in various forms right up till WW1.

The Persian/Iranian military from the 1840s till WW1 had some very unique uniforms and insignia, including wearing a tall (50cm high) cone-shaped lamp wool cap.

 

[RON]

Here's a period photo of what looks like the last Shah of Persia/Iran Mohammad Reza Pahlavi when still a boy (circa 1925). He succeeded his father--depicted here on the stamp--in Sep. 1941 until overthrown by the revolution in 1979.

I guess this corroborates the authenticity of this sort of 'hybrid' headgear...
P.S. That (very rare?) card sold for over $45 so no, I did not win it