FIRST EMPIRE DRAGON OFFICER'S HELMET. Gilded brass crest with stamped decoration of nine gadroons on each side, medusa-head mask and, at the base, a palmette surmounted by the "N" under an imperial crown in stamped, engraved and chased silver. Engraved and chased cover plate with foliage and foliage scrolls; topped by a marmoset consisting of an embossed, engraved and gilded brass socket and lens bearing the black horsehair aigrette. Original leather-trimmed panther skin turban with leather buckle. Leather visor covered by turban. Scale chinstraps mounted on a black velvet base. Gilded wire fasteners with two floches. Brass pen-holder. Cut, stamped and gilded copper rosettes, decorated with palmettes. Inner headdress in black leather and mauve silk (partly unstitched). Black horsehair mane. A white feather plume mounted on an embossed brass tulip decorated with palmettes is included. B.E. First Empire period, circa 1810. Original turban with wear and tear, never disassembled, slight retouching of gilding. Later plume. Provenance : -Former André LEVI collection in Paris (1920-1939). -Former Pierre BENOIT collection in Avignon (collection started around 1940).