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STRIKING FEDERAL PERIOD US MILITIA DRAGOON HELMET

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:2,000.00 USD Estimated At:4,000.00 - 6,000.00 USD
STRIKING FEDERAL PERIOD US MILITIA DRAGOON HELMET
WITH “LIBERTY” FRONT PLATE. This rare 1795-1815 leather dragoon helmet measures approx. 10 1/4" high & 11 1/2" in width. The body, front plate & visor of the helmet are leather w/ a 3 1/2" painted tin comb attached to the top. The front plate has a left facing American eagle surmounted by the word “LIBERTY” arched over his head. The eagle is done in white, gold & red paint & the word “LIBERTY” is also in white. The edges of the front plate are trimmed in red & there are strands of laurel leaves down both sides under the word “LIBERTY”. There is another word painted in white script letters under the eagle that appears to begin w/ “B”, but remains indecipherable. The leather visor is also trimmed in leather & shows a Moroccan leather inside liner. The skull of the helmet has a red painted 2" cross hatched border around the base. There is a cord on the right & left sides just above the border for attachment of a cockade & plume. The tin comb is painted red w/ 6 black painted circles descending in size from 1 1/2" to 3/8". There are 15 holes at the edge of the comb originally used to attach a bear skin crest. The interior of the helmet shows only remnants of a sweatband extending from the visor liner. CONDITION: remains amazingly solid but shows significant crazing to the finish, particularly on the visor. The red paint on the front plate, skull & comb is worn but is quite visible & attractive. The black painted finish has survived well. The eagle on the front plate is quite visible as is the shield on its chest. The word “LIBERTY” can be easily read. An exceptionally rare & desirable piece of early American military headgear seldom offered at public sale. (02-14893/BF). $4,000-6,000.