Imperial Prussian Reserve Artillery Officer Kugelhelm Helmet

The helmet reflects a very interesting upgrade of an enlisted or NCO ranks helmet to an officer ranks example. The round “kugel” top, the front wappen plate, the rear spine, and the “fish scale” chin strap are all officer grade fire gilt fittings, while the front visor retains the enlisted grade edging of pewter colored metal, and the interior carries an enlisted ranks style liner. The exterior leather surface of the helmet displays typical fine age crazing, and the finish appears somewhat dull from age and dust, but overall the condition of the helmet shell is in very good, with the helmet having a fine shape, and the exterior surface would likely respond very well to a careful cleaning. The fire gilt Prussian reserve front plate is toned with age and it shows some wear, but it remains impressive in appearance. The front plate is secured to the helmet with interior nuts affixed to the two screw posts of the plate. The front of the helmet has only those two holes for attachment of the plate. The kugel top can be unscrewed and, like the front plate and the chin strap, it shows a very good fire gilt finish with age toning. The ball top rests on a “pearl drop” ornamented base, which is secured to the top of the helmet using a circular base plate that is secured with star rivets. One side of the helmet exhibits the officer quality cockade in the national colors, while the opposite side bears the officer cockade in the Prussian colors. The interior liner shows signs of wear, but the liner tongues are complete and intact, The interior of the rear visor was evidently painted with a unit designation at one time, which was then subsequently scratched off of the visor. Overall the helmet is in excellent condition.