Set Of Helmet And Breastplate Of Cuirassiers Of The Imperial Guard, Model 1854, Second Empire.

HELMET AND CUIRASS OF THE IMPERIAL GUARD CUIRASSIERS, model 1854, Second Empire. 29300

HELMET with steel shell, visor, and neck guard, adorned with brass fittings. Shell marked "251," dated "56" (1856) with a crown and "2C" for the second regiment of cuirassiers of the guard. Visor and neck guard with brass trim folded over their outer edges, lined with black waxed leather. Front band embossed with a raised crowned "N" resting on two laurel branches. Crest (H 10.5 cm) composed of two flaps stamped with a series of ten decreasing caissons towards the back, bordered at the top with laurel leaves, and a mask (width 4.1 cm) embossed with a relief of a medusa head. Brass crest decoration adorned with scarlet horsehair. Black horsehair mane with a braided central plait, length 40 cm. Chin straps in black leather covered with interlaced rings, with stamped laurel leaf rosettes (diameter 5.3 cm); each rosette is secured to the shell by a brass screw. Round-section brass plume holder, tapering downwards and molded with laurel leaves. Inner black leather lining cut into nine "teeth of the wolf." Scarlet plume.

Fair condition. Rear mane replaced, the original being very short, but kept and sold with the set, oxidized steel, posterior lining on the visor and neck guard, interior lining worn with repairs and missing wolf teeth.

CUIRASS made of steel consisting of a backplate and a breastplate. Breastplate stamped on the outer edge "254," bordered by 21 brass studs with a large brass hook for the sabretache strap and a second one for the aiguillettes, marked inside "Manuf Imple de Klingenthal Coulaux Cie Sept 1854, 3e Te, 1 Lr, n° 323."
Backplate stamped on the outer edge "254," then scratched and stamped a third time "443," bordered by 39 brass studs, adorned at the top with two leather straps covered with interlaced figure-eight brass chain mail with a steel lock ending in leather straps, and at the bottom with a black varnished leather belt, model 1862. Interior marking "Manuf Imple de Klingenthal Coulaux Cie Sept 1854, 3e Te, 1 Lr, n° 323."

Fair condition, typical oxidation, leather shoulder pieces complete but partially broken at the top, posterior belt.

France. Second Empire.