Royal Artillery officer's helmet

Box containing two Royal Artillery officer's helmets, models in use between 1878 and 1902: the dress helmet and the service helmet.

The box is oval-shaped. Its conical lid has a handle at the top and a padlock. It is made of copper and painted with a camouflage pattern. The owner's name, "H.R.H. ROUQUETTE – Royal Artillery," is painted on the lid. Several shipping labels are affixed to the box, proving that these helmets accompanied this officer on his travels.

The dress helmet: it consists of a cork frame covered in dark blue cloth, assembled in four sections. The stiffened visor and neck guard are also covered in blue cloth, with no visible seams. The visor is edged with a gilt metal band, while the neck guard is edged with patent leather.

A domed, gilt metal band reinforces the back of the helmet. A gilt chain chin strap, lined with blue velvet, is attached to two gilt rosettes on either side. At the top of the helmet, a gilt cross serves as the base for a gilt spike. In 1881, it was decided to replace the spike with a ball.

A gilt plate bearing the royal coat of arms, the artillery symbols, and the royal mottoes "Honni soit qui mal y pense" (Shame on him who thinks evil of it), "Dieu et mon droit" (God and my right), and "Ubique quo fas et gloria ducunt" (Where you do good, glory leads).

The underside of the visors is covered in green leather. The inside of the helmet is lined with a fine ecru canvas. The sweatband is made of beige leather. Its diameter is adjustable with a thin red cord. An ownership label on the sweatband indicates the owner's name.

The service helmet: this is the most classic colonial helmet, consisting of a cork shell covered in white canvas, assembled in six sections, and topped with the pommel.

The inside of the visors is lined with green canvas. The liner is black canvas.

These helmets are in very good condition. The dress helmet is in near-mint condition. The service helmet is in used condition. A few minor dents on the case attest to its many voyages.

Ref: 8A069JZMBU