Imperial Guard Dragoon Trumpet Helmet, Model 1856

TRUMPET HELMET OF THE DRAGONS OF THE IMPERIAL GUARD, model 1856, KNOWN AS “DRAGONS OF THE EMPEROR”, Second Empire. 26907-1 Brass bomb, serialized on the back “222”, dated “56” (1856), marked with the “DELACHAUSSÉE” hallmark and marked with the regiment of the Dragoons of the Guard “D” followed by an imperial crown. Brass visor and neck guard, encircled with an 8 mm wide brass reed folded astride the outer edges. The visor is 4.8 cm wide, it is lined with black waxed sheepskin. The neck guard is lined with black waxed sheepskin and is hallmarked on the inside “L”. Depth of the bomb approximately 15 cm. Brass frontal band stamped in relief with the crowned "N" placed on two laurel branches, H in the center 10.5 cm. Plume holder with square section decreasing towards the bottom. H 3.5 cm. Crest composed of two fins stamped with a series of 6 boxes decreasing towards the rear with a horizontally striated background and each of them separated by a gadroon. The lower edge of the fins is folded over the bomb and cut into festoons and is fixed there by means of four brass half-spherical head screws. Max. H of the crest 10.5 cm. Mask with horizontally striated background, decorated with five smooth moldings in relief with at the top a gorgon's head stamped in relief and at the bottom a palmette. Width of the mask at the top 4.5 cm, in the center 2.5 cm, at the bottom 3.5 cm. Crest ornament in brass decorated with scarlet horsehair, H of the socket and the olive of the ornament 5.5 cm, H of the horsehair 5.5 cm. Mane in scarlet horsehair with braided plait in the center, length approximately 57 cm. Chin straps composed of strong leather chin straps covered with a series of intertwined brass rings, max. width 3.4 cm, min. width 1.9 cm. The two chin straps end one with a square brass buckle and the other with a strap. The chin straps are held in place by means of a brass screw with a half-spherical head with round rosettes (diameter 5.2 cm) stamped in relief with laurel leaves. Inner headdress in black waxed sheepskin with 9 wolf teeth. Total H 36 cm. France. Second Empire. Very good condition, slight dent at the top of the crest mask.