France, 2nd Empire (1852-1870). - Lot 232

France, 2nd Empire (1852-1870). Dragoon troop helmet, model 1858. Brass gutter bomb, brass visor and nape-cover lined with brown basane and edged around the perimeter with a brass ruffle. The back of the brass bomb is stamped "44" and "622". Original regulation leather turban covered by a felt headband imitating a panther skin. Embossed brass crest, the mask stamped with a flaming bomb surmounted by a medusa head with a wreath of laurel and oak branches above, the fins embossed with eight gadroons of decreasing shape, highlighted with pearls and framed with acanthus leaves and palmettes, the "rain screen" protecting the top of the crest with a design featuring a braided mane. Badge holder with black horsehair puff. Black horsehair mane, effective length approx. 68 cm. On the left side of the bomb, brass plume holder decorated with foliate friezes. Pair of model 1858 brass chinstraps with decreasing rings, mounted on leather chinstraps, complete with laurel leaf rosettes. Black leather inner cap without wolf's teeth, not to model. Approx. 31 cm (not including fin-holder). (Early helmet restoration, minor dents to the bomb, later chinrest leathers, later, non-model interior cap, traces of pewter soldering at the connection of the neck band on the left side, chinstrap leathers restored with later leather, fairly good condition).