British, 19th Century, 5th Dragoon Guards, P1847 Officers Helmet
This item is listed for historical interest only. It was listed on our site previously but has been sold and is no longer available for purchase.
Sold for: $550.00

Original era manufacture. This is certainly a restoration project, but the bones are great, and best of all (at least in my imagination), it's a pattern of helmet worn by the 5th Dragoons while participating in the Charge of the Heavy Brigade during the Battle of Balaclava in 1854. Or maybe not, as the next pattern change was in 1871 I believe when the front plate was simplified a great deal. Gilded copper body which was made in two halves, with an attached front and rear visor, the seams covered over by a very ornate floral covered metal band. At the front of the helmet is a magnificent helmet plate with a Queen's crown at top, her VR cypher at center, and in a bandeau encircling the cypher, P.C.W. (Princess Charlotte of Wales) Dragoon Guards.Amazingly the original linked chinstrap is intact, still attached to the elaborate rosettes on each side. The underside of the two visors retain their red Moroccan leather covering, and the original wide leather liner band is present as well, nothing short of a miracle considering the neglect this old helmet has endured over time. What is needed to put old humpty-dumpty back together again is the floral decorated piece of metal which would cover the rear seam of the helmet body, and the removable plume, socket and base.After photographing this old helmet, I have since cleaned away all of the old brass polish residue in the recesses of the helmet plate and trim. I used an old tooth brush with a light spray of WD-40 and it cleaned it right up, a definite improvement. Now you can see that the 8-point star burst behind the oval disc bearing Victoria's cypher is actually silver.