Bavaria, Kingdom. A Rare Artillery Officer’s Kugelhelm

(Bayern Kugelhelm für einen Offizier der Feldartillerie-Regimenter). A rare and exceptionally well-preserved Bavarian Artillery Officer’s Kugelhelm (ball-topped Pickelhaube variant for artillery units). Constructed of a pressed and boiled blackened leather shell, the helmet is topped by a gilded brass cruciform plate, fixed in position with four rivets, featuring a protruding post perforated with ventilation holes around the outer circumference. The post is topped by a removable spherical ball which screws into position with an internal nut, and indicates addition in 1916 or later. A gilded brass plate is affixed to the peak, and consists of a central crown Bavarian coat of arms, flanked on each side by lions rampant, situated above a bandeau bearing an inscription of “IN TREUE FEST” (“STEADFAST IN LOYALTY”). The plate measures 15 cm (w) x 10 cm (h) overall. It is flanked on each side by ribbed rosettes, with right side magnetic metal rosette finished in a red, white, and black Imperial German tri-colour motif, while the left side non-magnetic metal rosette is executed in a Bavarian blue and white (substituted with silver) national colour scheme. Studs emanate from the rosettes for the accommodation of a multi-piece chinstrap, consisting of two reinforced black leather bases topped by rounded, gilded brass scales which cascade toward the centre, where the two halves lock in place with a stud. A protruding blackened leather visor extends down across the forehead, while a neck guard of identical construction emanates from the back. The former is reinforced along the rim with a gilded brass fixture. A spine, similarly constructed of gilded brass, extends from the back of the crown plate and terminates at the rim of the beck guard. The interior is encompassed by a retractable brown rayon-blended liner, and is surrounded by a blackened leather sweatband with a scalloped edge. Unmarked, the Kugelhelm measures approximately 17.5 cm (w) x 23 cm (l) x 20.5 cm (h). It demonstrates minor, age-appropriate material fatigue to the leather elements, which remain supple, with slight wear of the liner and some bending of the shell. This striking and fine-quality wartime example remains in a near extremely fine condition.