Cuirassier Helmet And Breastplate, Model 1858, Second Empire.

HELMET AND CUIRASS OF CUIRASSIERS, model 1858, Second Empire. 27739/27742 HELMET. Iron bomb, gutter of the base of the bomb of the model 1858 with a single round reed. Turban in strong leather covered with a headband in marine cowhide. Visor and neck cover in iron, each edged with a reed folded astride the outer edge, lining of the visor in brown leather. Crest in stamped brass, composed of a mask stamped with a flaming grenade surmounted by a head of Medusa in relief with above a crown of laurel and oak branches held to the bomb by means of a brass screw; two fins struck with a decreasing series of 8 gadroons framed by pearls of acanthus leaves and palmettes and in the upper part of a series of laurel leaves, each being held to the bomb by means of two brass screws; Cover plate stamped with a decoration depicting a braided mane. Brass crest ornament composed of an olive decorated with palmettes, a socket with laurel branches and palmettes, and a scarlet horsehair tuft. Brass plume holder decorated with laurel branches. Model 1858 chinstraps mounted on a leather chin strap covered with a series of rings ending in a rosette stamped with laurel leaves and attached to the turban by means of a brass screw. Black horsehair mane length approximately 70 cm. Inner headdress in leather cut into wolf teeth. Fairly good condition, bomb with oxidation from use, neck cover lining missing, dents on the crest, turban in marine cowhide with missing hair, chin straps missing, inner headdress worn and incomplete. CUIRASSE TROUPE DE CUIRASSIERS, model 1855 modified 1891, Second Empire. In cast steel, tempered with rapeseed oil and annealed in blue on a sand bath. Shape fitted at the waist, base with flared shape; accentuated breastplate busk and pronounced backplate ridge. Breastplate decorated with 4 brass rivets, registered “849”, signed inside “Mre Imple de Châtt 7bre 1864 2nd size 2nd width No. 1001”. Backplate decorated with 6 rivets re-registered “403”, signed with the “Mre Imple de Châtt mai 1860 2nd size 1st width No. 204”. Each of the two straps has a black cowhide body decorated with two brass chains; the body is finished with a brass buttonhole plate with a heart-shaped leather tip; the suspender holder is made of brass with 3 rivets. Black leather belt with brass buckle. Very good condition. France. Second Empire. Very good condition, some surface oxidation.