47 - An officer's helmet and cuirass

An officer's helmet and cuirass dating: circa 1850 provenance: Austria, Iron helmet skull lacquered in black (refreshed), with gilt brass mounts. At the front, a large badge bearing the monogram "F 1" (for Francis I), surmounted by the imperial eagle. High embossed crest decorated with a lion and a serpent, the border featuring laurel branches, complete with its yellow and black wool crest. Wide armoured chinstraps with gilt brass plates decorated with floral motifs in bas-relief, the terminal plates featuring lion's heads. Black leather liner composed of several segments with gilt impressions. The breastplate made of black-lacquered iron, complete with its rare original leather belt and shoulder straps (this type of cuirass had no backplate), with gilt mounts. The interior lined with white leather with red edging. A magnificent and rare officer's ensemble issued to cuirassiers, dragoons and light cavalry, troops collectively known as the "Deutsche Kavallerie" of the Imperial Austrian Army.